Palais de Marbre

Palais de Marbre
Map
Alternative namesMarble Palace
General information
Architectural styleHypermodern
Town or cityNgaliema, Kinshasa
CountryDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Completed1970; 54 years ago (1970)
OwnerJoseph Kabila
Design and construction
Architect(s)Eugène Palumbo and Fernand Tala N'Gai

The Palais de Marbre, also known as Marble Palace, is a palace and historic building in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated atop a hill in the Ngaliema Commune within the residential neighborhood of Ma Campagne, located a few miles from Mont-Fleury. The complex serves as a guest residence during specific official visits and is accessible to the general public, housing an exhibition that chronicles the history of Laurent-Désiré Kabila's assassination.[1][2][3][4][5]

History

[edit]

The inception of the Palais de Marbre dates back to 1970 when Governor Albert Ndele Bamu of the National Bank of the Congo initiated its construction. Originally conceived as an "official residence" for himself within the Binza hills of Ngaliema commune, the design process was entrusted to Eugène Palumbo and Fernand Tala N'Gai's design team, renowned for their work on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs complex and the Supreme Court.[6][7][8] The resulting structure adopted a hypermodern, circular design that incorporated segments of the surrounding garden and prominently featured marble imported from an Italian quarry, with a statue of a prodigious lion at its main entrance.[7][9] The design, in harmony with the site's topography, was said to resemble the map of the Congo. Ndele was named Minister of Finance in September 1970 (considered a demotion), then dismissed in 1971.[10][11][12] Although the Bank claimed the property in its inventory, the Marble Palace was confiscated by President Mobutu Sese Seko, who converted it into one of his opulent palaces and a guesthouse for high-ranking visitors,[8] including the U.S. National Security Advisor, Henry Alfred Kissinger in April 1976.[13][14][15]

Following the downfall of Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997, Laurent-Désiré Kabila took up residence in the palace. Tragically, on 16 January 2001, Laurent-Désiré Kabila was shot in the chest by one of his bodyguards.[16][17] On 13 February 2001, Nelson Mandela visited the palace during his discussions with the new DRC President, Joseph Kabila, regarding regional peace.[18][19]

The palace remains the residence of the Kabila family and occasionally hosts specific official visits. An exhibition within the palace provides a comprehensive account of Laurent-Désiré Kabila's assassination.[20][21]

Tourism

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The Marble Palace is open to the public for two days a year: 16 January and 17 January, nationally recognized as "the days of the martyrs."[1][22][23][21] These days are dedicated to the memory of two martyrs, Patrice Émery Lumumba, assassinated in Lubumbashi on 17 January 1961, and Laurent-Désiré Kabila, assassinated at the Marble Palace on 16 January 2001. The Palace has meticulously preserved historical artifacts, including the bloodstained chair on which Laurent-Désiré Kabila was shot. Parenthetically, it exhibits a collection of photographs documenting Laurent-Désiré Kabila's political journey, from his time in Les maquis to his eventual rise to power on 17 May 1997. Various works of art, honoring his legacy, also adorn the palace.[1][22][24][21][25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nsapu, Dido (January 16, 2023). "Au Mémorial du Palais de marbre, les souvenirs restent encore vivaces 22 ans après l'assassinat de Mzee Kabila". www.digitalcongo.cd (in French). Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. ^ "Bouclage au Palais de marbre: traque d'un fou suspecté d'être un infiltré rwandais" [Closure at the Marble Palace: tracking down a madman suspected of being a Rwandan infiltrator]. www.mediacongo.net (in French). April 14, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  3. ^ "Vif engouement de la population au Mémorial Mzee Laurent Désiré Kabila au Palais de marbre" [Strong enthusiasm of the population at the Mzee Laurent Désiré Kabila Memorial at the Marble Palace]. ACP (in French). 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  4. ^ Kouadio, Jean-Francois (2017-10-26). La Republique des singes (in French). Oxford, United Kingdom: African Books Collective. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-990922-62-6.
  5. ^ "Kinshasa commémore l'an 19 de l'assassinat de Laurent Désiré Kabila". Radio Okapi (in French). 2020-01-16. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  6. ^ Africa international (in French). South Africa: Africa S.A. 1997.
  7. ^ a b Sacks, Ruth (2023-07-25). Congo Style: From Belgian Art Nouveau to African Independence. Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States: University of Michigan Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-472-90388-7.
  8. ^ a b "Albert Ndele Mbamu est décédé à Bruxelles à 93 ans". Forum des As (in French). 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  9. ^ Kabwit, Ghislain C. (1979). "Zaire: The Roots of the Continuing Crisis". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 17 (3): 381–407. ISSN 0022-278X. JSTOR 160489.
  10. ^ Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa. London, United Kingdom: BBC Monitoring. 1970. p. 7.
  11. ^ Africa. Paris, France: Agence France-Presse. p. 27.
  12. ^ Ghifem, Katwala (1981). Blockage Mechanisms, Disincentives, and Economic Crisis in Zaire: The Role of the West. Tervuren, Belgium: Centre d'étude et de documentation africaines. p. 13.
  13. ^ "Congo: United States Secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, arrives in Kinshasa for talks with President Mobutu". British Pathé. 1976. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  14. ^ "Cunningham, Michael Bernard, (born 14 July 1961), HM Inspector of Constabulary, since 2014", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 2010-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u250658, retrieved 2023-09-06
  15. ^ "Kissinger Offers U.S. Help in Rhodesia Negotiations". The New York Times. 1976-04-29. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  16. ^ Dibwe, Ken Anastase Mwembu (2023-07-18). Candidats aux élections présidentielles en RD Congo: Analyse biographique des présidents et candidats (in French). Paris, France: Éditions L'Harmattan. p. 17. ISBN 978-2-14-034360-5.
  17. ^ Faye, Mamadou (2021-01-16). "Retour sur la mort entourée de mystère de Laurent-Désiré Kabila". BBC News Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  18. ^ "Nelson Mandela meets with President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Nelson Mandela Foundation". www.nelsonmandela.org. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  19. ^ "Mandela to meet Kabila". The New Humanitarian. 2001-02-07. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  20. ^ Cros, Marie-France (2019-06-25). "RDCongo: 180 millions d'euros pour construire un palais présidentiel". La Libre Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  21. ^ a b c Mputu, Patrick. "Hommages à Kabila et Lumumba: 16 et 17 janvier, deux jours chômés et payés" [Tributes to Kabila and Lumumba: January 16 and 17, two paid days off]. ouragan.cd (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  22. ^ a b "Justin Haguma: «Laurent-Désiré Kabila et Patrice-Emery Lumumba sont pour nous un patrimoine»". Radio Okapi (in French). 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  23. ^ "Sud-Kivu : hommages aux héros nationaux Laurent Désiré Kabila et Patrice Emery Lumumba". ACP (in French). 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  24. ^ Ikabe, Jean-Pierre Eale (2023-01-13). "Hommage aux Héros Kabila et Lumumba" [Tribute to Heroes Kabila and Lumumba]. e-journal.info (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  25. ^ Duke, Lynne (2003-11-05). "The Troubled Inheritance Of Joseph Kabila". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-09-06.

4°21′50″S 15°15′02″E / 4.36395°S 15.25065°E / -4.36395; 15.25065

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