Multimillion-dollar monuments in Africa that courted serious controversies

Cecil Rhodes Statue, University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa

Cecil Rhodes was a British-born South African businessman, a mining magnate and a leading figure in the politics of southern Africa who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. The bronze statue was sculpted by Marion Walgate and was unveiled at the University of Cape Town in 1934. At the time of his death in 1902, he was considered as one of the richest men in the world.  However, he was a major promoter of Britain’s imperial interests and was considered racist by lots of indigenous people. His humanitarian endeavours and philanthropy notwithstanding, students and protesters all over South Africa protested the monument as a symbol of white oppression and after a UCT Council vote, the statue was removed ending the Rhodes Must Fall movement.

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Adedeji Ademola

Adedeji Ademola is a Staff Contributor of Face2Face Africa. He holds a B.A (Hons) in History and Diplomatic Studies from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria and an MBA degree with specialization in General Management and Entrepreneurship as well as a Master of Science degree in International Relations both from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He was a recipient of the Guerrand Hermes Foundation for Peace Scholarship in 2006. He got the Best Student Leader award and also a merit award from the Faculty of Arts Students Association during his undergraduate days. Adedeji is a development strategist/activist and youth empowerment advocate. He is a Member, African Studies Association of the UK; Member, Royal African Society; Member, African Institute of Business Simulations, etc. His main research interests are in Politics, Society and Governance in West Africa, Africa inter-state relations, emerging powers, security, democratization and regional integration in West Africa. He has published articles in local and international journals; public media, among other several works.

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