My name is Gilbert Jean Thierry Namur. I am a proud Canadian. My wife and I live on Vancouver Island surrounded by magical ancient forests and majestic snow capped mountains. Our children were born here and we share this little slice of heaven with our Chocolate Labrador Retriever named Jazz.
But … it was not always thus.
Far away from these boreal shores of the Pacific Northwest, I was born in a place called Leopoldville. At the time, Leopoldville was the capital of what was then known as The Belgian Congo. Today, it is known as Kinshasa. Situated on the Congo River, it is the capital and largest city of what is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
My stay in Africa was brief. Not long after my birth, there was an awful revolution and we were forced to flee the country. Like many thousands, we just made it out alive.
I was so young when I left that my recollections of Africa are limited to shades and shadows in the very deepest recesses of my memories. Throughout my life, however, I have heard countless stories of the great beauty of that country and the many adventures experienced by my parents and sisters. My father’s eyes would always sparkle when he spoke of the Congo’s great splendor.
We left Africa and, after a short stay in Belgium, we landed on Canadian soil in 1963.
Forty years later, my wife and I were visiting my parents for dinner. Afterwards, my mother placed a file on the table that contained old black and white photographs from the Congo; she had recently re-discovered them in an old trunk. She was not sure if we had seen them before and wanted to share them with us. As we started to flip through the pile, a photo fell out — a picture of a young lion.
“What’s this picture all about, mom?” I asked curiously.
“Oh, that’s your lion, dear,” she replied as if it were old news.
“My lion?”
“Yes, dear, your lion,” she said, smiling as my father looked on with a knowing glint in his eyes.
“I HAD A LION?”
My father was a man of the highest integrity. Throughout his life, he treated everyone with respect and kindness irrespective of their belief systems, ethnicity or the language they spoke. My mom and my sisters have always treated people in exactly the same way. My parents had two daughters and really wanted a son. When news of my birth spread, some of the Congolese men who worked with and loved my father wanted to honor him and his first-born son with the gift of a lion.
To be presented with a lion is an honor of the highest magnitude. That a Caucasian Belgian would be honored in such a way speaks volumes of just how highly regarded and loved my father was by these Congolese people.
One of my sisters, who was 10 at the time, remembers my father beaming with pride while simultaneously wondering how he could possibly look after a lion cub already nearing adulthood! There was, of course, no way for us to keep a lion. My father asked if they would be willing to care for it until it was old enough to be returned to the wild. This was for them also a great honor. And so it was a win-win, and eventually the lion was allowed to live its life as it was meant to. Free …
My name is Gilbert Jean Thierry Namur … and for a short time, my dad and I had a lion! As I look back on my life, the many things I have done and the many things I wish I had done, the memory of that night at my mom and dad’s always makes me smile. I had a lion! Perhaps one day when it is my turn to cross the rainbow bridge, I will meet our lion and the people who gave it to us and then cared for it. I would like that very much.
Photo Credits
All photos © Gil Namur, All Rights Reserved
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Thank you Son for these wonderful memories of a great time passed with a diverse and beautiful people. You are so right, they did love and esteem your dad, and he them.
It all seems, now, like a wonderful dream; a dream that lasted for us, over there, for twelve great years .Having to leave just about broke all our hearts.
The Lion was a favorite story and one we all enjoyed so much; he most of all.
Thank YOU mom!
Huge hugs
Son Gil!
You got a lion?! Man, all I got was a stupid ring that doesn’t even fit me anymore…
MOM!!!! No fair!!!!
LOL @ Sarah!
WOW – what a terrific, terrific story. You are blessed to have such a wonderful family, and to be honored with a Lion. It says a LOT about the Namurs. And, excellent to see Mrs. Namur’s comment. You have a wonderful son, ma’am. He adds a lot of value to a lot of people. I’m sure you are proud, as you have every right to be.
Sir Bob!
Thank you so very much for your comment which I am humbled by! I had great coaching
Life’s journeys take us here and there … and meeting people like you along the way Bob is a real privilege and something else that makes me smile
Thanks again Bob!
Cheers
Gil
Oh yes Mr Burg, you are so right . I am proud of my son and happy for and with him.
Thank you for your kindness in commenting ; it means a lot to us all.
Have you read Congo Journey by Redmond O’Hanlon?
Margaret
HI Margret,
No I haven’t. I will make a note of it now
Thanks and cheers,
Gil
My brother had a lion … that was really awesome!
But I am the lucky one …. I have a lion of a brother!
Thanks sis!
I am brother .. hear me roar! LOL
I still can’t believe you had a lion. That is really something! Especially considering all I’ve got are 500 mealworm larvae.
LOL Julie … see if any of them have a mane!
Gil, you lion sonofagun, you never told us this before! Wow! Out of curiousity, did you ever get to name your lion?
Ricardo de la Pura Vida .. LOL
I did not get to name the lion but it was referred to by those who offered it to us as Simba, which is Swahili for Lion
thank you for painting such a lovely picture of a country i otherwise have heard only horror stories about. you had a lion, yes, and that lion also had you! what a lucky lion:)
Thanks Moira and thanks for popping in!
Wow! Most Mom’s would say when it comes to first pets something like…. we got you your first dog Spot when you where born to grow up with you. Not the case in the Namur family lol. That is so cool to find out that you where given a real lion my lord haha. When you think about it how many people does that happen to (next to none). You have a history full of rich experiences in your family to be so proud of! Thank you so much for sharing Gil.
A Lion for the Lion Hearted… Loved this story Gil and hope to see you & Colleen again soon,
Janice
Thanks Kathleen for reading it and for your nice comments
And Janice .. I am probably more like the Lion Headed .. I really need a hair cut LOL. Hope to see you soon as well. We’d like that!
Cheers,
Gil
I had a farm in Africa…at the foot of the Ngong Hills.-from Out of Africa/ My name is Gilbert Jean Thierry Namur … and for a short time, my dad and I had a lion!
Sometimes one line one sentence, can be so poignant that it becomes the integrity of who that person is. There is such power in your statement. Wonderful!
Thanks Janet!
What a very nice thing to say!
Have a great week
Gileeeeee
It is a very wonderful story and I am so grateful to have come across Life As A Human – it’s so wonderful to be able to express myself freely!
What a lovely truth to find out. This made me smile.
Thanks Amia!
I am glad it did … smiling is a GOOD thing!
Lovely article! I know what you mean about beauty – both nature and people. Just returned from the Seychelles islands where I grew up. They call it the original “Garden of Eden”. No lions though! Perhaps just as well. No snakes either:) Hope one day you will make it back to Africa Gil.
Thank you Sandra!
The Seychelles look amazing! Perhaps one day I shall go visit. But, Wales calls me first! It’s a longgggg story LOL
Cheers,
Gil
What a great story Gil! There are not many people in the world who once had a lion. That such an honour would be bestowed on your family does speak volumes to the courage and respect your father undoubtedly exemplified to the Congolese. Well done Gilbert Jean Thierry Namur.
Oh, the stories you’re still to tell us all…can’t wait.
Thank Tess!
My dad was an amazing man! And, I do have a … few more stories to tell
Cheers,
Gil