July 29, 2022, Unveiling of the bust of Agostinho Neto in the Atrium of the Library for Foreign Literature

July 29, 2022, in the Atrium of the All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature (VGBIL), named after. M. Rudomino held a solemn ceremony of opening the bust to the Angolan poet, the first president of Angola A. Neto.

The event became the central event of the celebrations held in Moscow and dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of A. Neto. This is the first bust of an African poet and political figure installed on the territory of VGBIL, as reported by the Angolan and Russian media.

The ceremony was attended by the ambassadors of several African countries, as well as Portugal, accredited by the Russian Federation. Among the invitees were former ambassadors of the USSR / Russia in Angola V.N. Kazimirov, senior researcher. Institute for African Studies RAS S.V. Nenashev. After the official opening ceremony of the bust, its participants, including the Ambassador of Angola in Russia, Augusta da Silva Cunha, director of VGBIL P. L. Kuzmin, read A. Neto's poems translated into several languages. Senior Researcher Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences A. Tokarev (the author of the idea of installing the bust of A. Neto in VGBIL) shared his memories of A. Neto.

The evening ended with a concert performed by Angolan musicians from the Kapasoca Orchestra, who are studying in Russia.

Senior Researcher Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ph.D. A.Tokarev.