Key points
- The first monument to Taras Shevchenko in Africa was unveiled in Botswana.
- The monument was erected on the grounds of the University of Botswana.
- The sculpture was created by South African artist François Kertz using Botswana bronze.
- The poem “Zapovit” was recited in the national language of Botswana during the ceremony.
- There are 1,384 monuments to Taras Shevchenko around the world.
In the Republic of Botswana, the first monument to the Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko on the African continent was unveiled. The ceremonial event took place on 9 March, marking the 212th anniversary of the artist’s birth, the Ukrainian Embassy in Botswana reported.
The monument was installed on the grounds of the University of Botswana in the capital, Gaborone.
The statue is located next to the Ukrainian Centre, which was recently opened by the Ukrainian Embassy on the campus.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the university leadership, the Ukrainian community, journalists, lecturers, and student leaders.
The monument was created by South African sculptor François Kertze and is made of Botswana bronze.
During the unveiling, the artist presented the Ambassador of Ukraine to Botswana, Oleksii Syvak, with the gloves he had worn while working on the sculpture, as a symbol of the completed work.
A special part of the ceremony included readings of Shevchenko’s works. The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Botswana, Professor Tapelo Otlogetswe, publicly read his own translation of Zapovit (The Testament) in the national language of Botswana – Setswana.
As of today, there are 1,384 monuments dedicated to Taras Shevchenko worldwide. The majority are located in Ukraine – 1,256, while 128 monuments stand in 35 countries around the world.
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