99% Invisible

Monumental Diplomacy

Sep 6, 2022

Ryan Lenora Brown, a reporter based in South Africa, dives into the complexities of Namibia’s Independence Memorial Museum, nicknamed the Coffee Maker. The museum's curious design by a North Korean studio raises questions about national identity and foreign influence. Brown explores North Korea's monumental diplomacy in Africa and its impact on cultural narratives. The conversation also touches on the challenges young Namibians face as they reshape historical interpretations and the role of art in political expression, reflecting a broader struggle for autonomy and self-definition.

36:25

Creator website

Episode guests

Ryan Lenora Brown

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

5min

Monument Diplomacy and Identity in Namibia

23min

Fluid Histories and the Role of Memory

3min

The Journey of a North Korean Propaganda Artist

3min

Art and Survival in North Korea

3min

Art Under Oppression

4min

In downtown Windhoek, Namibia -- at the intersection of Fidel Castro Street and Robert Mugabe Avenue -- there's an imposing gold building with an affectionate nickname: the Coffee Maker. This notable structure was built to commemorate Namibia’s fight for independence from apartheid South Africa, which it achieved in 1990. And for many of the visitors, the museum feels like a huge achievement. But for a museum that commemorates throwing off the chains of colonialism and forging a new era of self-determination, it has one pretty strange feature. It wasn't designed by a Namibian architect. It wasn't even designed by an African architect. It was built by North Korea's state-run design studio, which has long been a prolific maker of statues around the world. North Korea has left a distinct visual stamp across Africa in particular, with museums and monuments erected in more than a dozen African countries since the 1970s.

Monumental Diplomacy

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and get exclusive access to bonus episodes.
Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.