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My Brussels: Chouna Lomponda, the Jewish Museum

10:17 22/03/2018
Chouna Lomponda, spokesperson of the Jewish Museum, tells us about the art of communicating and being a citizen of the world

Chouna Lomponda is an inspiring ambassador for the Jewish Museum of Belgium; a communication expert who was a pioneer in Belgian broadcasting and is equally passionate about style and culture. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, she has travelled the world but calls Brussels home. The Bulletin caught up with her in her Sablon office to talk about parenting, public image and life in a global city.

Tell us about your personal journey

I travelled a lot as a child as my father was the former army chief of staff and ambassador for Zaire (now the DRC) in Israel. When I was young I resented my parents because it meant I lacked solid ties, but in hindsight it has enabled me to be open to the world and given me a great deal of adaptability. Wherever I place my bags I feel at home, as long as I have my loved ones around me.

I feel like a citizen of the world, while also being a Belgian of Congolese origin. The artist Nadia Berriche, who exhibited here at the museum, said that identity was not something fixed, it evolves over time. Identity is an important question at the museum; each Jewish person has their own ethnicity and identity.

How did you end up working at the Jewish Museum?

I started out in the written press, focusing on culture and society, followed by reporting on radio and then television. It was a period when it was rare to see people from minority backgrounds in broadcasting, so I’m proud to have been one of the first people from sub-Saharan Africa in the media in Brussels. Then I was headhunted by an international company for a communications post in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC. I left it to work in a political cabinet, before returning to Belgium.

How did I, as a non-Jewish person, get the position at the Jewish Museum? It comes down to three words: work, qualifications and audacity. In the past six years we have achieved new collaborations, the White Night museum initiative, the Brussels Urban Trail, literary encounters with French journalist Valérie Trierweiler and writer Olivier Guez. After the deadly shooting at the museum in May 2014, this was daring.

We have also increased our online and social media presence. I’m now also a conference speaker on how to promote your brand, not only in the cultural sector, with a speciality in crisis communication.

What are your private and professional challenges?

My pitch is to translate the museum’s objectives into communication objectives. I work on the visibility of the museum’s policies and its image for the public as well as the media.

Equally, I have to find partnerships and sponsors. The cultural sector is in crisis, so this requires us to be much more creative. We are obliged to seek funds off the beaten path and broaden our audience, for example by working with universities and colleges to encourage youngsters to discover the world of museums.

If I was to give one piece of advice to youngsters starting out in the business, it would be the importance of developing a network. I would have appreciated this tip when I finished my studies. As an educated black woman, I have had to work harder. As a single mother, it’s sometimes difficult to reconcile my private and professional life as I frequently have to attend evening events. You don’t attract sponsors by staying at your desk.

I’ve made my peace with not being a perfect mother but when I’m with my boys, I give them 100% of my attention. I love the idea of accompanying them on their individual paths in the best and most honest way possible, while respecting their identity. It’s not easy as a parent to accept your child’s individuality, but it’s the best job and very absorbing.

What does Brussels mean to you?

Without going over the top, I love the city: it’s cosmopolitan, full of surprises and you never stop discovering new things. With citizens of 184 nationalities, Brussels is the most multicultural city in the world after Dubai. There’s still work to be done as regards security and cleaning the streets, but the mix of nationalities makes it attractive and makes me proud.

Chouna’s best of Brussels

Patrick & Ondine Mestdagh
You are always warmly welcomed at this Sablon gallery where you’ll find objects, rarely seen, that may be jewellery or works of art. Admire a contemporary object, for example by a Dutch artist, placed next to an African piece.
29 Rue des Minimes

Parvis de Saint-Pierre
As an Uccle resident, I love this square - with its florist, bakery and newsagents. One event not to be missed every Sunday during the summer is Place(s) à l’art. It’s a chance to meet artists and discover their work.

Ixelles Museum
This is more than just a museum and has great education projects.
71 Rue Jean Van Volsem

Kinses by Rosy Sambwa
This young Brussels-based designer and stylist is inspired and inspiring. She creates jewellery, decor, home linen and designs made with noble fabrics, some inspired by Africa. She’s also the sunniest designer I’ve ever met.

Belli-Art
An address in the EU quarter for when you want a quick and tasty snack. The foie gras sandwich with magret of duck and apple and pear chutney is to die for!
164 Rue Belliard

The Little Steam Train of Forest
As the mother of four boys, I find it’s the simplest things that bring the most pleasure. My eldest two now prefer to do things without me, but the Wolvendael park in Uccle, Toison d’Or cinema and this steam train park in Forest are among our favourite activities.
323B Chaussée de Neerstalle

The Jewish Museum of Belgium
The theme of the museum’s current exhibition, Bruxelles: Terre d’Accueil, is all about My Brussels. It recounts how the Brabant capital has been transformed into a global capital in less than two centuries.
21 Rue des Minimes

This article first appeared in The Bulletin autumn 2017

Written by Sarah Crew