For the third consecutive year, Rómulo Santa Rita, one of Angola’s leading contemporary artists, has been selected to create the annual artistic cover for Grupo Cosal—and once again, his creation has been recognised among the top 10 best covers.

This year’s piece, titled “Embondeiro” (Baobab), transcends the format of a traditional cover. It is a bronze sculptural work inspired by the poem Embondeiro by renowned Angolan writer Manuel Rui Monteiro. Through this evocative dialogue between literature, sculpture and land, the work pays homage to the enduring spirit of Angolan identity and Cosal’s own deeply rooted presence across the country.

A Sculptural Tribute to Angola’s Soul

The baobab tree, a powerful symbol in many African cultures, becomes here a metaphor of resilience, wisdom, and rootedness—qualities that also define Cosal’s longstanding commitment to Angola’s development. Sculpted in bronze, the tree’s form carries a tactile and visual richness that honours artistic creation in all its dimensions: from words and poems to the hands of bronze casters and the vision of a contemporary artist.

Etched into the surface of the piece are topographic reliefs from Kamacupa, giving the artwork a geographical fingerprint. The land is not just represented—it is felt, as the artwork invites touch, memory, and emotional connection. The poem and the landscape merge into a shared surface, embodying the connection between matter and metaphor.

The Intersection of Art, Industry, and Territory

Cosal’s initiative to commission artistic covers each year demonstrates a rare and powerful commitment to culture. With Rómulo’s third consecutive contribution, the brand continues to embrace contemporary art as a bridge between vision and action, soil and story.

This year’s cover stands out not just for its craftsmanship but for its conceptual depth. It celebrates the act of collective creation—the coming together of artisans, poets, and visual artists to shape something permanent, tactile, and charged with meaning.

More Than a Cover

“Embondeiro” is not just a visual composition—it is a sculptural manifesto of creativity, a bronze body that holds history and aspiration in equal measure. The piece reminds us that to imagine is to build, and to build is to honour the past while shaping the future.