MAAN - Memorial Dr. António Agostinho Neto
Also known as the “Agostinho Neto Mausoleum”, this futuristic building is an obelisk-like concrete structure towering above the city of Luanda. It occupies the center of the Agostinho Neto Cultural Center and serves as the final resting place of the country's first president, Dr. António Agostinho Neto. The tower was designed to reference Neto's poem "The Path of Stars".
Neto was a key figure in Angola's war for independence from Portugal (1961–1974), and led the country as its first President from 1975 up until his death in 1979. He remained the leader of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in Angola's subsequent civil war, dying long before its final end in 2002.
Neto forged strong ties with the Soviet Union during his presidency, and that relationship shows in the intense Soviet modernist style of the structure.
Built in 2012, its Brutalist architecture is said to reference a spaceship, and Luandans referred to it as “Sputnik” in the 1990s while its construction remained unfinished. Angola’s interest in socialist realism may be a byproduct of their past political alliances. The Soviet Union supported the MPLA party during Angola’s civil war, Cuba sent soldiers to fight on their behalf, and North Korean military personnel were also involved. Certainly the “cult of personality” that has visually marked these three nations is recalled by the Neto monument. The cost of the monument was estimated to be around $40 million, (partly?) funded by North Korea...
The cache
The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates! You have to find the answers to the following questions, to find the exact location of the cache... Although the cache can be approached from both sides of the fence, I do recommend to do it from the monument side, for safety reasons... In that case, the cache is only accessible during opening hours (weekdays 09:00-17:00, weekends 10:00-16:00). They told me it’s closed on Mondays, but that’s not what it says on the website of MAAN. If anybody can clear it up, I’d be happy....
1. For how many years was Neto president of Angola? (You may round it up. This is A.)
2. The country’s name “Angola” is derived by the Portuguese from the title ”ngola”, held by the kings of ............ (Take the word value and take the consolidated number. That is B.)
3. What day of the year is a national holiday in Angola, celebrating Independence Day? (Add the 4 digits together. That’s C.)
4. How high (tall) is the mausoleum in meters? (Round off to nearest 0. The 3 digits=D.)
5. What is the name of the building (in English!)? Hint: it’s also the title of one of Neto’s books. (Take word value, consolidated. It’s E.)
6. Augustinho Neto had 3 children in his life. Although the family only recognized 2. One of them became active in Angolan politics. The first name? (Count the number of letters. That’s F.)
Now to the coordinates: S08°49.(A)(B)(C)’ and E013°13.(D+2*E*F)’.
Please return the container as you found it, out of direct sight. The high grass behind the fence is helpful...