Antoine Ndinga Oba
Encyclopedia
Antoine Ndinga Oba was a Congolese
diplomat, political figure, and linguist.
. He worked as a professor of linguistics at the Marien Ngouabi University
in Brazzaville
. From 1972 to 1973, he was Director of the National Institute of Research and Pedagogy, and from 1973 to 1976 he was Director of INSSED; subsequently he was Rector of the University of Brazzaville (later Marien Ngouabi University) from 1976 to 1977.
In 1972, Ndinga Oba was elected to the Central Committee of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT), but he was dropped from the Central Committee in 1975. He was appointed as Minister of National Education on 5 April 1977 and returned to the Central Committee in 1979, when Denis Sassou Nguesso
, a cousin of Ndinga Oba, became President. In August 1984, Ndinga Oba was moved from his post as Minister of National Education to that of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; in the same year, he was elected to the PCT's expanded 13-member Political Bureau.
In a September 1986 speech at the United Nations
, Ndinga Oba compared apartheid South Africa
and Israel
to Nazi Germany
. Israel complained to the United States
about this speech, and the United States in turn complained to Congo; it reportedly pressured the Congolese government with a warning that US President Ronald Reagan
might decline to meet with Sassou Nguesso when the latter visited the US in October 1986. In the week after the speech, Ndinga Oba apologized to Israel. He was removed from the Political Bureau at a plenary session of the Central Committee in November 1986, when the Political Bureau's size was decreased from 13 members to 10 members. On 13 August 1989, he was promoted to the rank of Minister of State in the government, while remaining in charge of foreign affairs. He continued to serve as Foreign Minister until 1991, and from 1991 to 1992 he was the Personal Representative of President Sassou Nguesso.
Ndinga Oba became a professor at the Study Center of Congolese Languages in 1992, remaining there until 1998. He was appointed as Congo's Ambassador to UNESCO
, located in Paris
, on 20 August 1998. It was believed that he received this posting because he was in poor health and would have access to better medical treatment in Paris. On 7 February 2003, Ndinga Oba was elected as President of the African UNESCO Group by African ambassadors meeting at UNESCO's headquarters. In this capacity, he was charged with coordinating relations between UNESCO and African countries.
As a linguist, Ndinga Oba wrote extensively on Bantu languages
. In 2004, he published a two-volume linguistic study, The Bantu Languages of Congo-Brazzaville: Typological Study of the Languages of Group C20 (Mbosi or Mbochi) (Les langues bantoues du Congo-Brazzaville – Étude typologique des langues du groupe C20 (mbosi ou mbochi)). Other linguistic books written by Ndinga Oba included Lingala and Mounoukoutouba: two variants of Kibangou (Le lingala et le Mounoukoutouba - deux variantes de Kibangou) and Lexical Structures of Lingala (Structures lexicologiques du lingala). He also wrote on the subject of education; in 1989, he published Education in Africa: the Case of Congo (L'Education en Afrique, le cas du Congo). Another book by Ndinga Oba, On the Banks of the Alima (Sur les rives de l'Alima), was published in Paris in 2003. On the Banks of the Alima (its title is a reference to the Alima River
; Ndinga Oba was born near the Alima) is a philosophical story that takes the form of a dialogue between a father and daughter; it focuses on the need to maintain a connection to the past and preserve cultural heritage, while at the same time looking outward towards the world and embracing a positive form of globalization.
While serving as Ambassador to UNESCO, Ndinga Oba died on 17 May 2005 in Paris. His body was returned to Congo-Brazzaville, and after a tribute at the Palace of the Parliament in Brazzaville
, he was buried at his family cemetery in Oyo on 27 May 2005. President Sassou Nguesso and Gabon
ese President Omar Bongo
were present for his funeral.
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
diplomat, political figure, and linguist.
Academic and diplomatic career
Ndinga Oba was born in 1941 at Biala, near Oyo, located in Cuvette RegionCuvette Region
Cuvette is a department of the Republic of the Congo in the central part of the country. It borders the departments of Cuvette-Ouest, Likouala, Plateaux, and Sangha, and internationally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital is Owando...
. He worked as a professor of linguistics at the Marien Ngouabi University
Marien Ngouabi University
Marien Ngouabi University is the only state-funded university in the Republic of Congo. It is located in the capital of Brazzaville.-History:...
in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
. From 1972 to 1973, he was Director of the National Institute of Research and Pedagogy, and from 1973 to 1976 he was Director of INSSED; subsequently he was Rector of the University of Brazzaville (later Marien Ngouabi University) from 1976 to 1977.
In 1972, Ndinga Oba was elected to the Central Committee of the Congolese Labour Party (PCT), but he was dropped from the Central Committee in 1975. He was appointed as Minister of National Education on 5 April 1977 and returned to the Central Committee in 1979, when Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso
Denis Sassou Nguesso is a Congolese politician who has been the President of Congo-Brazzaville since 1997; he was previously President from 1979 to 1992. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party regime of the Congolese Labour Party for 12 years...
, a cousin of Ndinga Oba, became President. In August 1984, Ndinga Oba was moved from his post as Minister of National Education to that of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; in the same year, he was elected to the PCT's expanded 13-member Political Bureau.
In a September 1986 speech at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Ndinga Oba compared apartheid South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Israel complained to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
about this speech, and the United States in turn complained to Congo; it reportedly pressured the Congolese government with a warning that US President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
might decline to meet with Sassou Nguesso when the latter visited the US in October 1986. In the week after the speech, Ndinga Oba apologized to Israel. He was removed from the Political Bureau at a plenary session of the Central Committee in November 1986, when the Political Bureau's size was decreased from 13 members to 10 members. On 13 August 1989, he was promoted to the rank of Minister of State in the government, while remaining in charge of foreign affairs. He continued to serve as Foreign Minister until 1991, and from 1991 to 1992 he was the Personal Representative of President Sassou Nguesso.
Ndinga Oba became a professor at the Study Center of Congolese Languages in 1992, remaining there until 1998. He was appointed as Congo's Ambassador to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, located in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, on 20 August 1998. It was believed that he received this posting because he was in poor health and would have access to better medical treatment in Paris. On 7 February 2003, Ndinga Oba was elected as President of the African UNESCO Group by African ambassadors meeting at UNESCO's headquarters. In this capacity, he was charged with coordinating relations between UNESCO and African countries.
As a linguist, Ndinga Oba wrote extensively on Bantu languages
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...
. In 2004, he published a two-volume linguistic study, The Bantu Languages of Congo-Brazzaville: Typological Study of the Languages of Group C20 (Mbosi or Mbochi) (Les langues bantoues du Congo-Brazzaville – Étude typologique des langues du groupe C20 (mbosi ou mbochi)). Other linguistic books written by Ndinga Oba included Lingala and Mounoukoutouba: two variants of Kibangou (Le lingala et le Mounoukoutouba - deux variantes de Kibangou) and Lexical Structures of Lingala (Structures lexicologiques du lingala). He also wrote on the subject of education; in 1989, he published Education in Africa: the Case of Congo (L'Education en Afrique, le cas du Congo). Another book by Ndinga Oba, On the Banks of the Alima (Sur les rives de l'Alima), was published in Paris in 2003. On the Banks of the Alima (its title is a reference to the Alima River
Alima
Alima is an affluent on the right bank of the Congo river, in the Republic of Congo's territory.-Towns:Towns on the banks of this river include :* Okoyo* Boundji* Oyo...
; Ndinga Oba was born near the Alima) is a philosophical story that takes the form of a dialogue between a father and daughter; it focuses on the need to maintain a connection to the past and preserve cultural heritage, while at the same time looking outward towards the world and embracing a positive form of globalization.
While serving as Ambassador to UNESCO, Ndinga Oba died on 17 May 2005 in Paris. His body was returned to Congo-Brazzaville, and after a tribute at the Palace of the Parliament in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, he was buried at his family cemetery in Oyo on 27 May 2005. President Sassou Nguesso and Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
ese President Omar Bongo
Omar Bongo
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba , born as Albert-Bernard Bongo, was a Gabonese politician who was President of Gabon for 42 years from 1967 until his death in office in 2009....
were present for his funeral.