Patience Dabany
Encyclopedia
Patience Marie Josephine Kama Dabany (born 22 January 1944), also known by the names Marie Joséphine Kama and Josephine Bongo, is a Gabon
ese singer and musician
. For nearly 30 years she was married to Omar Bongo Ondimba, who was President of Gabon from 1967 to 2009. After their divorce, she successfully pursued a career in music. She is the mother of the current President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba.
, Congo
, Dabany's parents originated from the Bateke
people in Haut-Ogooué
region in what is now southeastern Gabon
. Dabany grew up in a musical family and began to sing at an early age to her father's accordion
accompaniment, while her brother played guitar. From there her path led to the church choir in Brazzaville and on to traditional song performances. Her mother was a traditional singer.
, a young Gabonese student. At just 15 years of age, she married Albert on 31 October 1959. They had two children: a son Alain Bernard Bongo
(9 February 1959) and a daughter, the late Albertine Amissa Bongo (1964–1993).
Marie Josephine Kama, later known as Josephine Bongo, was the first lady of Gabon
. She and her then-husband founded the Gabonese Democratic Party
. She became involved in many social projects, including the promotion of women's rights, charities for children, etc. Working with culture he created the musical group dedicated to the Gabonese Democratic Party, Kounabeli (Superstars), where she performed as lead singer.
Levekisha, was a great success in Gabon and in many African countries. Other albums followed such as Cheri Ton Disque Est Rayé,
Associé, and Patience Dabany in 1994. The success of her 1997 album Nouvelle Attitude proved her popularity in Africa, so the same year Dabany returned to her motherland and reestablished herself in Libreville
. In 2001 she released Article 106. Her 2004 world music album Obomiyia allowed her to tour with James Brown
in Europe. She recorded an album with Kounabeli in 2005; the song La Connaissance from this album was one of the anthems of her former husband (now using the name Omar Bongo Ondimba) used during the presidential campaign of 2005.
Patience Dabany collaborated with many artists such as James Debarge
, Tabu Ley Rochereau
, and Tshala Muana. She is also the president of the Association of Gabonese Merchants and works in the field of charity.
In the USA she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of music in Los Angeles. She has composed music for feature films. Having performed at Paris Olympia in 2001, Patience Dabany is one of the most prolific musical ambassadors of Gabon. , Dabany is recording a new album.
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 singer and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. For nearly 30 years she was married to Omar Bongo Ondimba, who was President of Gabon from 1967 to 2009. After their divorce, she successfully pursued a career in music. She is the mother of the current President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Personal
Born as Marie Joséphine Kama in BrazzavilleBrazzaville
-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...
, Congo
French Congo
The French Congo was a French colony which at one time comprised the present-day area of the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and the Central African Republic...
, Dabany's parents originated from the Bateke
Bateke
The Bateke are a Central African ethnic group that speak the Teke languages. Its population is situated mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and with a minority in Gabon...
people in Haut-Ogooué
Haut-Ogooué
Haut-Ogooué is one of Gabon's nine provinces. It is named after the Ogooué River. It covers an area of 36,547 km². The provincial capital is Franceville. One of its primary industries is mining, with manganese, gold and uranium being found in the region. The uranium-bearing mineral Francevillite...
region in what is now southeastern 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...
. Dabany grew up in a musical family and began to sing at an early age to her father's accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
accompaniment, while her brother played guitar. From there her path led to the church choir in Brazzaville and on to traditional song performances. Her mother was a traditional singer.
As First Lady
In 1958, she met Albert-Bernard BongoOmar 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....
, a young Gabonese student. At just 15 years of age, she married Albert on 31 October 1959. They had two children: a son Alain Bernard Bongo
Ali-Ben Bongo
Ali Bongo Ondimba is a Gabonese politician who has been President of Gabon since October 2009.Bongo is the son of Omar Bongo, who was President of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009...
(9 February 1959) and a daughter, the late Albertine Amissa Bongo (1964–1993).
Marie Josephine Kama, later known as Josephine Bongo, was the first lady of 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...
. She and her then-husband founded the Gabonese Democratic Party
Gabonese Democratic Party
The Gabonese Democratic Party , is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba , then under Omar Bongo...
. She became involved in many social projects, including the promotion of women's rights, charities for children, etc. Working with culture he created the musical group dedicated to the Gabonese Democratic Party, Kounabeli (Superstars), where she performed as lead singer.
Musical career
In 1986 Joséphine and Albert Bongo divorced. Marie embarked on a career as a professional artist, under her new name, Patience Dabany. Her first album,Levekisha, was a great success in Gabon and in many African countries. Other albums followed such as Cheri Ton Disque Est Rayé,
Associé, and Patience Dabany in 1994. The success of her 1997 album Nouvelle Attitude proved her popularity in Africa, so the same year Dabany returned to her motherland and reestablished herself in Libreville
Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
. In 2001 she released Article 106. Her 2004 world music album Obomiyia allowed her to tour with James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
in Europe. She recorded an album with Kounabeli in 2005; the song La Connaissance from this album was one of the anthems of her former husband (now using the name Omar Bongo Ondimba) used during the presidential campaign of 2005.
Patience Dabany collaborated with many artists such as James Debarge
James DeBarge
James Curtis DeBarge is an American R&B and soul singer. He was one of the members of the singing family group DeBarge, who became stars with their 1980s songs "All This Love", "In a Special Way", "Rhythm of the Night", and "Who's Holding Donna Now?".DeBarge is also known for his 1984 marriage to...
, Tabu Ley Rochereau
Tabu Ley Rochereau
Tabu Ley Rochereau is a musician from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International and one of Africa's most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters...
, and Tshala Muana. She is also the president of the Association of Gabonese Merchants and works in the field of charity.
In the USA she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of music in Los Angeles. She has composed music for feature films. Having performed at Paris Olympia in 2001, Patience Dabany is one of the most prolific musical ambassadors of Gabon. , Dabany is recording a new album.
External links
- Patience Dabany at museke african artistes
- Images of Patience Dabany can be found on SAHARAN VIBE: ALI BEN BONGO ONDIMBA