In the Ivory Coast, former Chancellor Angela Merkel will be honored with the UNESCO's Félix Houphouët Boigny Peace Prize on Wednesday. The Ivorians also celebrate them for their welcoming policy towards refugees.
The likeness of former Chancellor Angela Merkel is everywhere in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
The bright, monumental building rises 30 meters into the sky of Yamoussoukro, this strangely quiet capital of the Ivory Coast, far away from the hustle and bustle of the economic metropolis Abidjan. A white dove of peace adorns the globe in the geometrically designed park in front of the main entrance. The name of the institution located there is almost as impressive as the architecture: Félix Houphouët Boigny Foundation for Peace Research.
Now 20 meter long panels of fabric adorn the glass facades of the building – printed with the likeness of former Chancellor Angela Merkel. It is a very special setting for Merkel's return to Africa, a good year after her resignation as Chancellor. On Wednesday, Angela Merkel will receive the Félix Houphouët Boigny UNESCO Peace Prize 2022 in the self-proclaimed “World Capital of Peace” for her contribution to overcoming the refugee crisis.
Ivorians on Angela Merkel: “A great woman”< /h2>
Huge posters of Angela Merkel can be seen all over the city in Yamoussoukro, the former chancellor has become the talk of the town: “I read in the newspaper that she will receive the Félix Houphouët Boigny Peace Prize. She deserves it because she is a great woman. She has carried out many actions for peace,” a resident told DW. And another adds, “She's a truly amazing woman. We'd love to be like her.''
The selfie of the Syrian refugee Anas Modamani went around the world in 2015 – and became a symbol for Merkel's “We can do it”
The people in the streets of Yamoussoukro show enthusiasm for the newly elected Ambassador of Peace: “She was a real leader. She has achieved a lot. She has also helped migrants come to Europe and has the door for several thousand open,” praised a resident in a DW interview.
Merkel leaves a lesson
The jury of the Félix Houphouët Boigny Peace Prize, named after the former President of the Ivory Coast, was impressed by Merkel's courage in 2015 to open Germany to refugees. With their now legendary statement “We can do it!” In the federal press conference on August 31, 2015, the then Chancellor expressly welcomed refugees – and received both recognition and criticism.
The influx of refugees since 2015 has also presented Germany with logistical challenges
“The entire jury was touched by her courageous decision in 2015 to take in more than 1.2 million refugees, particularly from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea,” said the President of the jury and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Denis Mukwege, in support of the UNESCO -Based in Paris. It is a lesson that Merkel is leaving to history.
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay also paid tribute to Merkel's commitment. “Peacemaking is also about opening doors for those who are suffering,” she explained. “The jury's decision is a reminder that the reception and the way we deal with migrants and refugees is a key concern.”
Merited for peace
With her welcoming policy, Merkel has now made it into the illustrious series of prizewinners, which began in 1991 with the South Africans Nelson Mandela and Fredrik Willem de Klerk. But mostly these were awarded at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris, which curates the prize and today also manages the foundation of the Ivorian founder Félix Houphouët Boigny. The fact that Merkel, as the third prizewinner, receives the prize at the foundation's headquarters in Yamoussoukro has a high symbolic value.
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Journey of discovery into the largest church in the world
Space for 200,000 people
There are 11,000 standing places and 7,000 seats for worshipers inside. Even more could stand outside: the square outside the building offers space for 30,000 more, while 150,000 could still be accommodated on the promenade in front of the church. So there is room for 200,000 in total. This makes the basilica the largest in the world.
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Journey of discovery in the largest church in the world
West Africa's hidden pearl
In Yamoussoukro, the “forgotten” capital of the Ivory Coast, there is probably the largest church in the world: the basilica of “Our Lady of Peace”. Félix Houphouet-Boigny, founding father and first president of Ivory Coast, had it built from 1986 to 1989. Today she is his heir.
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Journey of discovery into the largest church in the world
Highest Basilica of the World
In size and shape, the basilica is said to be similar to St. Peter's Basilica. The dome is slightly lower than the famous model, but the oversized cross measures 158 meters. The building is 191 meters long and 150 meters wide. It was designed by Lebanese architect Pierre Fakhoury. The area is more than 8000 square meters. More than 400,000 trees and shrubs have been planted on the site.
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A journey of discovery into the largest church in the world
A light of a thousand colors
The buten glass windows are an eye-catcher. They occupy an area of 7400 square meters. Various scenes from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are depicted on the windows. This includes a picture of the birth of Jesus and a depiction that shows the earlier Félix Houphouet-Boigny kneeling in front of the baby Jesus. His name is engraved underneath.
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Journey of discovery into the largest church in the world
No marriages
Weddings and funerals are forbidden in the huge church. Only a good third of the people in the Ivory Coast are Catholic at all – which is why only a few hundred people get lost in the pews during the services. Those who come by can enjoy the air from the Italian air conditioning, which is praised by visitors as an “oasis of freshness”.
Journey of discovery into the largest church in the world
An ambitious building
The basilica was a gift from the President Houphouët-Boigny to the Vatican. Pope John Paul II was not enthusiastic about this, but agreed in the end – with two conditions: The dome must not be higher than that of St. Peter's Basilica. He also called for a hospital right next to the church. That was also planned – but only opened in 2015.
A voyage of discovery into the largest church in the world
An expensive building
The mega-project was funded from the start on controversial. Houphouët-Boigny is said to have spent 300 million US dollars (around 263 million euros) – in the middle of a serious economic crisis. Maintenance still devours around 1.5 million US dollars annually and is paid for by a foundation.
Journey of discovery into the largest church in the world
A skeptical pope
The 18,000 seats inside are said to be only been occupied once: when the church was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on September 10, 1990. After that he never visited the basilica again – perhaps due to the contrast between the enormous construction costs and the situation of the population: More than 40 percent of the 23 million inhabitants live below the poverty line.
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Journey of discovery into the largest church in the world
The forgotten capital
The basilica stands in a forgotten city full of six-lane boulevards that end nowhere. In 1983, Houphouët-Boigny chose his native town of Yamoussoukro as the new capital. He commissioned impressive buildings such as the five-star Hotel “President”. But neither ministries nor embassies moved here from the previous capital, Abidjan. Author: Silja Fröhlich
Félix is actually celebrating -Houphouët-Boigny Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, 30 years after the death of Ivory Coast's first President. In the Ivory Coast, which has been marked by civil war in its recent history, Houphouët-Boigny stands for the peaceful dawn after independence – an image that he sought to underpin by building a gigantic basilica and was able to further expand with his foundation.
The prize is endowed with 150,000 US dollars (122,000 euros). A gold medal and a certificate signed by the UNESCO Director General are also included. A number of West African leaders are expected to attend the awards ceremony on Wednesday. Merkel may be reminded of old times. This time she is traveling with a small delegation by scheduled flight.