Members of the public donated to create a permanent statue of Ella Roberta Adoo Kissi Debrah, which has been unveiled in her hometown of Lewisham.
Ella was the first person in the world to have air pollution recorded as her cause of death, and the statue will reside in Mountsfield Park, close to Ella’s home and the South Circular Road, the emissions from which caused her tragic death at the age of 9.
The bronze statue of Ella shows her as she was, happy, confident and full of potential. The height of the statue is 1.37m or 4ft 6” – the same height Ella was when she died.
Displayed outside, Ella’s 9-year-old body appears small in the large park and highlights how vulnerable children are to the effects of air pollution.
In an interview with Transport + Energy in 2023, after talking at the Forum, her mother Rosamund Adoo Kissi Debrah CBE appealed to the government to invest in public transport and promote alternative active travel, “clinging onto petrol and diesel cars is only going to impact on our health at the other end.”
The statue is placed overlooking the City of London and specifically Lewisham Hospital, where Ella sadly spent so much of her time during the last couple of years of her life.
Hundreds of people from the local community came to see the statue being unveiled. The choir from Ella’s old primary school, Holbeach School, performed 2 songs (‘Air’ and ‘New Legacy’) which were part of Hope4Justice, created and produced by Trinity Laban with local young people as part of Lewisham’s year as the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture in 2022.
The music was written by Mercury Prize nominee singer, composer and producer ESKA. The song ‘Air’ was directly inspired by Ella Roberta, imploring everyone to ‘say her name’. ‘New Legacy’ was the finale of the show, imagining a future Lewisham where young people’s action has brought about positive change.
Ella’s mother, Rosamund Adoo Kissi Debrah CBE, said:
“I feel incredibly emotional today. Seeing how small Ella looks up there brings it home how much time has passed since she died. Ella would be 21 now, and if it wasn’t for the illegal levels of air pollution near our home, she would be alive today.
“The statue will be a constant reminder of not just her, her spirit and her warmth, but of the need for us all to continue to talk about air pollution and raise awareness about the damage it is doing to people’s health. We cannot see the toxic air we are breathing in everyday, but hopefully this statue will remind us to stop and think, and for decision makers and politicians to do what is right and clean up the air we breathe.”
“I would like to thank the artist Hannah Stewart who has been the most thoughtful and gracious custodian of Ella’s statue. We as a family are forever grateful for her care and wonderful talents. Anna Summers who has managed the project for the Foundation so studiously. Thank you to the GLA and Lewisham Council who have contributed, their support is appreciated.
“But most of all I want to thank those members of the public who have donated most of the money. Our family is beyond grateful to all those people who gave their hard-earned money to the project, it was humbling that so many contributed, and I hope the local community can feel proud of the statue for many years to come.”
The sculptor of the work, Hannah Stewart, commented:
“I am always struck by how we continue to turn to sculpture to mark significant people, causes and events. Despite the many platforms available to us, sculptures remain an important and powerful way to communicate complex messages and emotions while also being a focal point for grief, celebration, pride and learning.
“I hope that this statue of Ella, together with the amazing work that Rosamund is doing, will play a significant role in promoting the importance of clean air for everyone while also offering some comfort to her family and community in their grief. As a mother myself, I have felt particularly connected to this commission and am proud to have played a role
in spreading this vital message. I hope Ella’s statue will help raise awareness of the
dangers of poor air quality and the importance of clean air for everyone.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“This statue is a powerful tribute to the life of a much-missed young Londoner and will also help educate people about the dangers of toxic air. Air pollution is not only an environmental crisis but a matter of social justice, which affects us all, from cradle to grave.
“The Ultra Low Emission Zone and our other air quality policies mean Londoners are now all breathing substantially cleaner air than in previous years – but there is still more to do, and I promise to keep taking action as we build a fairer and greener London for everyone.”
Image courtesy of the Ella Roberta Foundation
