Locally nick named by kids as “Le nju-nju” which is to mean monster or scarecrow, this 12 meters tall artwork is the most remarkable landmark at the Rond-point Deido round about in Douala Cameroon. La Nouvelle Liberté was raised in 1992 by a renowned artist in scrap work Joseph-Francis Sumégné who set out to depict the spirit of freedom of the city of Douala as it increasingly drafted many citizens including himself from neighboring towns and villages, in search of greener pastures and a better life in the big city of the economic capital.
It is told that many back then thought of the artist as crazy or insane as he went about trash dumps in search of the right ‘waste’ to put together his masterpiece. From waste car parts, electronic waste, house hold waste, rubber, plastic, metal, pipes, pumps etc the artist put together this imposing structure and 23 years after it is still standing majestically in spite the harsh climatic/weather conditions of the coastal area.
![Close View of the Chest of La Nouvelle Liberté [source Wikipedia]](https://d34vm3j4h7f97z.cloudfront.net/original/4X/c/6/d/c6d28141ed94b9f9161f818552e2eb128ef6bc7a.jpeg)
A skeleton made of welded metal and body parts made of random scrap, now that’s artwork for Joseph-Francis Sumégné. Parents have long used this structure to intimidate little toddlers into doing several things like taking their medicine or simply cooperating (lol). The idea that “le nju-nju” will bite you in your sleep if you don’t take your medicine was scary enough to us as kids I guess.
The artist is well known in his village of Bamenjou in the West region where a good number of his works are exposed in the village museum and chiefdom. And also in Europe where he’s had the opportunity to expose some his works all made out of recycled waste and junk. Like this one he did with another artist from Sénégal.
![Scrap Art Work by Joseph-Francis Sumégné and Mamady Seydi [© Clémence Cluzel]](https://d34vm3j4h7f97z.cloudfront.net/original/4X/e/1/4/e14996a8afa30f5e399c442b3f246aec47a548a8.jpeg)
I guess Joseph will tell you art work is more about originality and creativity than about what material you use or where it comes from (lol)…
Thanks!
Please share what you will call this type of art work - recycle-art or waste-art or… whatever? lol