ISOLELE’s next comic book is The Guardians of Kongo: Opi & Opa, The Sacred Bottle of Time of Ota Benga. It honors the memory of Ota Benga, the Congolese man taken far from his home more than a century ago, and it introduces a new character for the very first time: Opa.
Who was Ota Benga?
Ota Benga was a Mbuti man from what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1904 he was taken to the United States and shown at the St. Louis World’s Fair. In September 1906 he was put on display in the Monkey House of the Bronx Zoo in New York, until protests by Black ministers ended it. He died in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1916, far from home. In 2020, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the Bronx Zoo, formally apologized.
Why ISOLELE tells his story
For HRM King Kufulula, the story of Ota Benga is not an isolated tragedy but the mirror of a whole colonial system. ISOLELE tells it so that Congolese children know his name, and so that his memory is carried with dignity and pride.
The Guardians of Kongo and the Sacred Bottle of Time
In this book, ISOLELE takes readers to Ota Benga through the Sacred Bottle of Time. The Guardians of Kongo, with Opi and Opa at the heart of the story, cross time to reach him. It is a story about time, dignity and the preservation of African history.
Meet Opa
On one of the first pages revealed, the Elephant King strikes the sacred drum. BOOM! BOOM! The red mountain opens, the light swallows everything, and for the first time Opa steps into the ISOLELE universe.
Coming soon
The Guardians of Kongo: Opi & Opa, The Sacred Bottle of Time of Ota Benga is coming soon from ISOLELE. Follow ISOLELE on Instagram and on this news page to be the first to know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a comic book about Ota Benga?
Yes. The Guardians of Kongo: Opi & Opa, The Sacred Bottle of Time of Ota Benga, by ISOLELE, is a Congolese comic book that honors his memory. It is coming soon.
Who are Opi and Opa?
Opi and Opa are Guardians of Kongo, new characters of the ISOLELE universe. Opa appears for the first time in the Ota Benga book.
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