Memorial stone Alfons Lootens - Drongen

This memorial stone for 'agricultural supervisor' Adolf Lootens is located near the Old Abbey of Drongen.

The inscription “ Tribute to the pioneer of African civilisation” is a phrase that raises eyebrows today, but passed by casually in the middle of the last century. The image of the colonial who brought civilization to Africa was commonplace. also on the village square of Drongen, where this plaque commemorating Adolf Lootens has been standing since 1958. The local community of Drongen does not know who the man was, but the stone still reveals a whole history.

Behind a word like 'pioneer' lies the colonial ideology. Society saw people like Lootens as explorers. Although Congo already had very complex societies before the colonial period, they were convinced that the country had no history before that. The idea is also reflected in the star you see on the plaque. The colonial ruler, as it were, brings light into the darkness. The symbol was not chosen randomly.

In addition to the symbolism, we know from the memorial plaque that Adolf Lootens died in the capital Leopoldville, present-day Kinshasa. The man was 'agricultural supervisor', although it is not very clear what that term exactly means .

Willem Vandenameele