Taras Shevchenko monument, Gaborone
Taras Shevchenko monument at the University of Botswana | |
Interactive map of Taras Shevchenko monument in Botswana | |
| Location | Gaborone, Botswana |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24°39′37″S 25°55′51″E / 24.6601825°S 25.9308625°E |
| Designer | Francois Coertze |
| Material | Botswana bronze |
| Opening date | 9 March 2026 |
| Dedicated to | Taras Shevchenko |
The Taras Shevchenko Monument in Gaborone is the first monument in Africa dedicated to the prominent Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. It was unveiled at the University of Botswana on 9 March 2026.
History
The monument was ceremonially unveiled by the Embassy of Ukraine in Botswana to commemorate the 212th anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko. It was installed in the capital of Botswana, Gaborone, on the campus of the country's largest higher education institution — the University of Botswana, next to the recently opened Ukrainian Centre.[1]
The unveiling ceremony was attended by the university leadership, lecturers, students, members of the foreign diplomatic corps, the Ukrainian community and journalists. On the occasion of the opening, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Botswana, Professor Thapelo J. Otlogetswe, read his own translation of Shevchenko's poem Testament into one of Botswana's national languages, Setswana.[1]
The monument was created by the local sculptor Francois Coertze using Botswana bronze.[2] During the unveiling ceremony, the artist symbolically presented the gloves he had used while working on the monument to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Botswana, Oleksii Syvak.[1]
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, thanked the Director of the Department of Africa and Regional Organisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Liubov Abravitova, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Botswana Oleksii Syvak, and the staff of the Embassy for implementing this important initiative, as well as the leadership of the University of Botswana for their cooperation.[1]
Cultural significance
The monument, installed in Gaborone on the campus of the University of Botswana, is part of a broader international tradition of erecting monuments to Shevchenko. Monuments to the poet have been installed in many countries in Europe, North America and Asia, demonstrating the global spread of his cultural legacy.[3] In total, there are 1,384 monuments dedicated to Shevchenko worldwide. Most of them are located in Ukraine, and 128 are located in 35 countries of the world. Botswana has now joined this list, becoming the first African country where a monument to Shevchenko has been erected.[2]
The bust of Taras Shevchenko was installed at the initiative of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Botswana, Dr. Oleksii Syvak, with the support of Andrii Strelchenko, Dmytro Lykhovitskyi, Chan Kho Phu and Stanislav Maliar. The initiative to install the monument is regarded as part of broader cultural and diplomatic contacts between Ukraine and Botswana aimed at developing intercultural dialogue and promoting Ukrainian cultural heritage worldwide.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Taras Shevchenko remembered". Botswana Guardian. 13 March 2026. p. C (Lifestyle supplement). Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "The first monument to Taras Shevchenko on the African continent was unveiled in Botswana". Ukrainian National News. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ^ "Monuments to Taras Shevchenko". Taras Shevchenko Monuments Database - Botswana (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 16 March 2026.