Favorites: Application to name Ilunga Kabedi failed!

Favorites: Application to name Ilunga Kabedi failed!

In Favoriten, a proposal from the Greens is causing discussion. The first district councilor of African origin, Dr. Ilunga Kabedi, should posthumously receive a place in the district to honor her commitment to diversity and against racism. The motion has already been submitted to the district council twice and, despite support from parts of the Greens, has failed to gain support from the SPÖ and FPÖ.

Ilunga Kabedi, born on August 15, 1954 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, came to Vienna to study. She received her doctorate at the University of Vienna in 2000 on the sociolinguistic situation in Barumbu, Kinshasa and joined the Vienna Greens in 1999. Her conviction was underlined by her appointment as Vienna's first district councilor of African descent in May 2008. Active against racism and for the visibility of the African community, she is considered a role model and fighter, as Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou emphasizes: “She was a committed expert and a dear friend.”

A sign of diversity

The proposal to name a place after Kabedi was brought forward again by the Greens under the leadership of club chairwoman Katrin Fallmann. She criticizes the rejection of the application by the SPÖ and FPÖ by stating that such a designation would have been a strong sign of diversity in the district. In the eyes of the Greens, it is important that women, especially as important social actors, become visible in the naming of streets and squares. In Favoriten, where the ratio of streets named after men to women is unequal, this would be a step in the right direction.

The decision against the application was based on a recommendation from the Cultural Commission, which developed a catalog of criteria. Alexander Prischl, club chairman of the Social Democrats in Favoriten, explained that a nomination only takes place in exceptional cases if a person has achieved outstanding achievements for at least ten years. But the Greens recall that Kabedi fought passionately for her community and against discrimination for more than a decade.

Legacy and memory

Ilunga Kabedi passed away unexpectedly on September 1, 2015, which is a great loss to the entire community. Her role as a long-time activist, founding member of the African Working Group of the Greens in Vienna and a recognized expert on coexistence between police and African citizens was of great importance. Her dissertation and her involvement in initiatives such as “Green Migrants” demonstrate her desire to create better understanding and acceptance.

Kabedi's work is impressively acknowledged through the discussions about the naming of a place in Favoriten. Such an honor could simultaneously represent an appreciation of their efforts and a step towards a more open, diverse society. The question remains whether the responsible actors are really prepared to take this step.

My district reports, that the request for the designation has been rejected, while voices are growing louder for greater visibility of women and ethnic minorities in political culture. Müller calls for a broader discussion about women's involvement in politics - a topic that has only recently come into focus, but is already supported by numerous research, such as EAF Berlin shows.

In this debate, the commitment and recognition of names like Ilunga Kabedi are crucial for the future shaping of Viennese society. It remains to be seen whether the clarifying discussions will also lead to corresponding measures.