Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard (15 December 1938 – 4 July 2009) was a Congolese
politician and poet. Having previously served as Minister of Higher Education and Minister of Arts and Culture, he was Minister of Hydrocarbons in the government of Congo-Brazzaville from 1997 to 2009; he was also the founder and President of the Action Movement for Renewal
(MAR), a political party. Aside from politics, Tati Loutard published numerous books of his own poetry and literature in general.
and attended the Chaminade High School and the Marianist
school in Brazzaville
the capital of the Congo. He obtained degrees in modern literature in 1964 and in Italian in 1964 at the University of Bordeaux
. Tati Loutard returned to Brazzaville in 1966 to teach at the Centre for Graduate Studies. He published Poèmes de la Mer in 1968 and continued to publish regularly. His teaching career progressed and Tati-Loutard obtained the post of director of both the School of Humanities and the Center for Higher Education in Brazzaville.
In the 2002 parliamentary election
, Tati Loutard was a candidate in Tchiamba-Nzassi constituency (located in Kouilou Region
), but he was defeated in the first round by Bernard Mbassi of the Rally for Democracy and Social Progress
(RDPS). Tati Loutard ran again in the 2007 parliamentary election
, and this time he was elected to the National Assembly
as the MAR candidate in Tchiamba-Nzassi, winning the seat in the first round with 52.54% of the vote. On 28 March 2008, he was elected as President of the Association of African Petroleum Producers (APPA) for the 2008–2009 period.
While still serving as Minister of State for Hydrocarbons, Tati Loutard was taken to Paris to be treated for an undisclosed illness in June 2009. He died in Paris on 4 July 2009 and the government announced his death "with deep sadness" on 5 July.
to represent the poetry of his country in the Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry
.
In 1986, Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard was described as the "outstanding poet of his generation". Tati-Loutard won several awards for his works. He won the Prix des Lettres African Alioune Diop in 1982 for "New Congolese Chronicles" and the All Africa Okigbo Prize for Poetry in 1987 for "The Tradition of Dreams" and in 1987 he also won the Black Africa Literary Grand Prix for "The Story of Death". He has also published short stories in Congolese Chronicles in 1974. The stories discuss issues such as cronyism, corruption, prostitution, unemployment and problems of immigration. In 1979, he published "New Congolese Chronicles" in which he analyzes the transfer of Congolese society after independence.
Tati-Loutard has received numerous awards for his writings. He won the Prix des Lettres African Alioune Diop in 1982 for "New Congolese Chronicles" and the All Africa Okigbo Prize for Poetry in 1987 for "The Tradition of Dream" and in 1987 he also won the Black Africa Literary Grand Prix for "The Story of Death".
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...
politician and poet. Having previously served as Minister of Higher Education and Minister of Arts and Culture, he was Minister of Hydrocarbons in the government of Congo-Brazzaville from 1997 to 2009; he was also the founder and President of the Action Movement for Renewal
Action Movement for Renewal
The Action Movement for Renewal is a political party in the Republic of the Congo. Its founder was Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard, who was President of the MAR until his death in 2009 and also served in the government as Minister of State for Hydrocarbons...
(MAR), a political party. Aside from politics, Tati Loutard published numerous books of his own poetry and literature in general.
Biography
Tati Loutard was born in 1938 in the coastal city of Pointe-NoirePointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
and attended the Chaminade High School and the Marianist
Society of Mary (Marianists)
The Society of Mary, a Roman Catholic Marian Society, is a congregation of brothers and priests called The Marianists or Marianist Brothers and Priests. The Society was founded by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, a priest who survived the anti-clerical persecution during the French Revolution. ...
school 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...
the capital of the Congo. He obtained degrees in modern literature in 1964 and in Italian in 1964 at the University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
. Tati Loutard returned to Brazzaville in 1966 to teach at the Centre for Graduate Studies. He published Poèmes de la Mer in 1968 and continued to publish regularly. His teaching career progressed and Tati-Loutard obtained the post of director of both the School of Humanities and the Center for Higher Education in Brazzaville.
Political career
Tati Loutard joined the Congolese cultural movement and became Minister of Higher Education in 1975; he was subsequently Minister of Culture and Arts from 1977 to 1991. He participated in the February–June 1991 National Conference as a representative of the government and was included on the National Conference's committee for the drafting of internal regulations. After a period teaching, he returned to the government after the June–October 1997 civil war as Minister of Hydrocarbons on 2 November 1997. He was promoted to the rank of Minister of State, while retaining the Hydrocarbons portfolio, on 7 January 2005.In the 2002 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 2002
A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo in 2002; the first round was held on 26 May and the second round on 20 June. The Congolese Labour Party and its allies won a majority of seats in the National Assembly....
, Tati Loutard was a candidate in Tchiamba-Nzassi constituency (located in Kouilou Region
Kouilou Region
Kouilou is a department of the Republic of the Congo. Covering the country's coastline, it has an area of 13,694 square kilometres and at the start of 2007 it was home to about 806,670 people . The department borders Niari Department, and internationally, Gabon and the Cabinda area of Angola...
), but he was defeated in the first round by Bernard Mbassi of the Rally for Democracy and Social Progress
Rally for Democracy and Social Progress
The Rally for Democracy and Social Progress is a political party in the Republic of the Congo, founded by Jean-Pierre Thystère Tchicaya....
(RDPS). Tati Loutard ran again in the 2007 parliamentary election
Republic of the Congo parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in the Republic of the Congo on 24 June 2007, with a second round initially planned for 22 July 2007, but then postponed to 5 August 2007. According to the National Commission of the Organization of the Elections , 1,807 candidates stood in the first round for 137...
, and this time he was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo
The Parliament of the Republic of Congo has two chambers. The lower house is the National Assembly . It has 153 members, for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.-See also:...
as the MAR candidate in Tchiamba-Nzassi, winning the seat in the first round with 52.54% of the vote. On 28 March 2008, he was elected as President of the Association of African Petroleum Producers (APPA) for the 2008–2009 period.
While still serving as Minister of State for Hydrocarbons, Tati Loutard was taken to Paris to be treated for an undisclosed illness in June 2009. He died in Paris on 4 July 2009 and the government announced his death "with deep sadness" on 5 July.
Literary career
In 1984 he was chosen with only two other poets, Tchicaya U Tam’si and Emmanuel DongalaEmmanuel Dongala
Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala is a Congolese chemist and novelist. He is currently Richard B. Fisher Chair in Natural Sciences at Bard College at Simon's Rock....
to represent the poetry of his country in the Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry
Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry
The Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry , is a 1984 poetry anthology edited by Gerald Moore and Ulli Beier. It consists mainly of poems written in English and English translations of French or Portuguese poetry; poems written in African languages were included only in the authors' translations...
.
In 1986, Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard was described as the "outstanding poet of his generation". Tati-Loutard won several awards for his works. He won the Prix des Lettres African Alioune Diop in 1982 for "New Congolese Chronicles" and the All Africa Okigbo Prize for Poetry in 1987 for "The Tradition of Dreams" and in 1987 he also won the Black Africa Literary Grand Prix for "The Story of Death". He has also published short stories in Congolese Chronicles in 1974. The stories discuss issues such as cronyism, corruption, prostitution, unemployment and problems of immigration. In 1979, he published "New Congolese Chronicles" in which he analyzes the transfer of Congolese society after independence.
Tati-Loutard has received numerous awards for his writings. He won the Prix des Lettres African Alioune Diop in 1982 for "New Congolese Chronicles" and the All Africa Okigbo Prize for Poetry in 1987 for "The Tradition of Dream" and in 1987 he also won the Black Africa Literary Grand Prix for "The Story of Death".
Poetry
- 1968 — Poèmes de la Mer, (Poems of the Sea)
- 1968 — Les Racines congolaises, (The Congolese Roots),
- 1970 — L’Envers du Soleil, ('The Hidden face of the sun)
- 1974 — Les Normes du Temps, (The Standards of time)
- 1977 — Les Feux de la Planète,
- 1982 — Le Dialogue des Plateaux,
- 1985 — La Tradition du Songe, (The Tradition of Thinking), Paris
- 1992 — Le Serpent austral,
- 1996 — L’Ordre des Phénomènes,
- 1998 — Le Palmier-lyre,
- 1998 — (included in) The Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry
- 2007 — Oeuvres poétiques, Présence Africaine
Other publications
- 1976 — Anthologie de la littérature congolaise,
- 1977 — Les Feux de la planète,
- 1980 — Nouvelles chroniques Congolaises,
- 1987 — Le Récit de la mort, (The Story of Death)
- 1998 — Fantasmagories,
- 2003 — Nouvelle Anthologie de la littérature congolaise,
Accolades
- 1987 — Prix pour la poésie Toute l'Afrique Okigbo, for La Tradition du Songe
- 1987 — Black African Literary Grand Prix for Le Récit de la Mort
- 1982 — Prix des Lettres Africaines Alioune Diop, for Nouvelles Chroniques Congolaises {New Congolese Chronicles}
- 1982 — Prix Simba, for l'ensemble de son oeuvre
External links
- European-language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa, Albert S. Gérard, p. 584, 1986, ISBN 9630538334