(From left to right) Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, TSU museum director and curator, with HLSCA president Fátima Benge, the Honorable Ana Paula Do Nascimento, consul general of Angola in Houston, Nzogi Bruno Filipe, General Manager of Finance for Chevron International Exploration and Production, Deputy District Director Eric D. Goodwine,  and HLSCA treasurer Muma Makondekwa. Photography By Heidi Powell-Prera. 

The event sponsored by the Houston-Luanda Sister City Association (HLSCA) at Texas Southern University to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the country of Angola’s independence was definitely memorable. But it became even more so when the gift from the HLSCA to the Art of African Diaspora and Beyond exhibit at the university museum was unveiled. The statue is a rendition of the legendary Njinga Mbandi.   

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Njinga Mbandi (1581-1663) was queen of the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba and defined much of the history of 17th century Angola. Her existence also emphasizes the long story connecting the U.S. and that part of Africa. The first slave ship to arrive in the U.S. in 1619 had left from that area during the reign of Njinga Mbandi. She became queen after the deaths of her father and brother and during her 37-year reign she fought against the slave trade and for the independence of her kingdoms against the Portuguese.

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The acclaimed Angolan sculptor Antonio Tomas Ana carved the 4 ft., 88 lbs. statue from acacia wood, a tree native to Angola.  

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For full coverage of the event please click here.