In the town square of Namur stands a bizarre piece of art: a pair of bronze statues of cartoonish men seemingly in an argument over two snails, one on a leash and another in a cage. Djoseph et Françwès (Joe and Frank) are not exactly well-known characters like Smurfs or Tintin. Originating in the local newspaper L’Avenir and created by cartoonist Jean Legrand, the dull-witted duo represents the purported nature of the Namurois, who are said to be rather slow—an impression reinforced by the snails, both a symbol and culinary specialty…
