Czech Foreign Ministry lacks African strategy, says expert Marie Imbrová

Czech–African relations went through a downturn after the fall of communism, and might suffer another blow as the Czech Foreign Ministry has announced the closure of Czech embassies in Congo and Kenya. In this edition of One on One, we talk to Marie Imbrová, an African studies expert and a former diplomat, who spent eight years at Czech embassies in Kenya and Zimbabwe. She has continued visiting Zimbabwe even after she left the Foreign Ministry, and she is involved in several development projects there. During her sojourn in Africa, she also developed a passion for modern African art.

Marie Imbrová

“It’s not only my hobby, but it’s serious work. I lived in Zimbabwe from 2005 to 2008 when my work took me there, and after I left the Czech Foreign Ministry, I decided to continue my work there as a private person. I go there regularly; I was there three times last year and this year, it’ll be my second trip.

“I’m trying to find out how they perceive African art in Western Europe and in the US, and of course, what’s the position of Zimbabwean art as such.

“I’m really proud of my Zimbabwean colleagues and friends among painters and sculptors, many of whom are among the world’s top contemporary artists.”

You have exhibited parts of your collection around the Czech Republic. Are Czechs interested in modern African art?

“People usually don’t understand it but they are interested, especially when I invite them and talk to them among the pictures and sculptures, and tell them the whole story – who made it, what’s the technique, where the piece comes from, and so on.”

Many people are investing in modern art nowadays – usually Czech and European, of course – do you get offers to sell your pieces as well?

“It’s my own decision what I’ll do. I decided to promote this art, but some of the important pieces in my collection are not for sale, ever. I relate personally to them, and their prices would be too high for the Czech market.

Marie Imbrová (right)

“Of course, I have many pieces by some of the artists, and I have agreed to represent them here, because I can reach very acceptable prices for both sides. These prices are probably one third of those in Western Europe. It depends – when anyone is interested, I can approach the artist directly, and we can make a deal. But I still think that some pieces are too expensive for the Czech market.”

You graduated from the African studies programme at Charles University in the 1980s. How did you become interested in this field?

“I was 19 when I got to university; I was freshly married and had a child. But I was very naïve: I had always wanted to study ethnology but that year, that programme was not open. What was open, luckily, was African studies, which only opened to undergraduates every five years. I was really lucky to be accepted.”

After the fall of communism, you joined the Czech Foreign Ministry and became a diplomat. Did you see that as a career when you started your university studies?

“I probably surprised so many of my friends because I just said, ‘I will work at the ministry because that’s a way of getting to Africa’. I started to work at the ministry’s African department, and after the regular term at headquarters, I was sent to Kenya and later to Zimbabwe.

“I spent 11 years with the ministry and eight years in Africa. It was a great experience for me, but I think that it was enough and that I left at the right time.”

The Foreign Ministry announced last week they would close the Czech embassies in Congo and Kenya, and the fate of the embassy in Zimbabwe is uncertain. What do you think of the move?

“Personally, I’m very sad and I think it’s a grave mistake. When I think of it, I believe it’s the result of the fact that the Czech Republic has no African strategy or policy. If you don’t have that, how can you define what you want to achieve? The last several Czech governments simply forgot about Africa, and they focused on more regional issues.

“When you look at the map, we are leaving central and east Africa. A few years ago, when we closed the embassy in Dakar, we left the French-speaking Africa. This is a political decision. I don’t understand it, but that’s the reality.”

What do you think the Czech Republic is going to lose by this?

“We are simply losing part of our reputation, we are losing a part of history, and we are sending out a signal that we are not interested in modern Africa. We are ready to forger all of our historic, cultural and economic ties with Africa.”

Does the Czech Republic have a good reputation in these countries? Do people in Zimbabwe know about us?

Marie Imbrová in Zimbabwe

“We have a great reputation there, especially in Kenya and Zimbabwe. We started so many programmes there that were not usual in those countries. In Kenya, when I was there as the chargé d’affairs, we launched a programme of children’s adoptions, and education support. The same was happening in Zimbabwe. When I came, the former ambassador who was keen on art introduced me to many painters and sculptures and we did a lot to help some large communities.

“Our knowledge and our attitude to the locals was always different from that of the British, for instance, and I think that both Kenya and Zimbabwe really appreciated our approach.”

You are in fact leaving for Zimbabwe tomorrow – what’s the situation there like now?

“Zimbabwe is facing so many problems but I think the change is visible. There is the transitional government, not only the Mugabe party, and I’m so happy that the minister of education and culture is from the opposition. The new school year starts in September, and children will get new textbooks, and I’m going there with two volunteers to start a programme with the ministry of education.

“I will also go to visit a group of children in the community of Tengenenge, I help 47 children there, at the moment I’m trying to have birth certificates issued for them; there is a lot to do.

“I’m working there as a private person and I’m very proud that I’m Czech. Many people don’t care whether I’m a diplomat or not; I simply come from the Czech Republic to help them start a new life.”