La Nouvelle Liberté, Public monument in Deido, Cameroon
La Nouvelle Liberté is a metal sculpture standing at Rond Point Deido in Douala, constructed entirely from collected recycled materials. It features an upright form with extended arms that dominates the public square where several streets converge.
Artist Joseph-Francis Sumégné created the sculpture in 1996 as an expression of hope and freedom for Douala. The work later gained recognition and was officially presented to the public during the SUD cultural program in 2007.
The metal structure emerged from recycled materials, showing how residents of Douala create innovatively with limited resources. Visitors can observe how local artists build modern sculptures from everyday objects.
The sculpture stands at a central traffic junction where multiple major streets meet and serves as a recognizable landmark in the city. It is easy to reach on foot and provides access to the different districts of Douala from that point.
Local residents gave the sculpture the nickname 'Njo Njo', which means monster in the Duala language, reflecting mixed reactions when the work first appeared. Over time, people's view of it changed and today it has become a symbol of the city.
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