Vincent de Paul Nyonda
Encyclopedia
Vincent de Paul Nyonda (1918–1995) was a Gabon
ese playwright
and Minister
.
Nyonda served under the administration of the first Gabonese President Léon M'ba
, and was a prominent political figure in that administration. He served as Minister of Public Works from 1957 until 1962 and as Minister of Justice from 1963 to 1964.
Following the sudden and suspicious death of Léon M'ba, Vice President Omar Bongo
took over as head of state
. When Vincent de Paul Nyonda refused to join the new government, one he deemed illegitimate, Omar Bongo ordered his arrest and imprisonment. Nyonda endured weeks of physical and verbal abuse, but a decision was made to spare his life. He was sent to a small village and cut from his electoral base.
In the small village of Mandji, away from the luxurious life that his social status had provided, he learnt to live a much simpler life. It is there that he built his house with the help of a few volunteers who lent a hand. He hunted and grew vegetables to provide for his family.
It is also during this time that Nyonda began for writing. He wrote and directed numerous plays, and hired local students to perform them. It is during one such performance that Mrs. Josephine Bongo, who was touring the province of Ngounie
in the south of Gabon, and of which Mandji is the main city, had the opportunity see one of his plays. Upon returning to Libreville
, she convinced her husband, President Omar Bongo, to allow Nyonda back to Libreville.
Nyonda returned to Libreville and continued to write and direct. He wrote numerous plays and books and became a prominent playwright in Gabon. Ironically he also played a president in the African movie Demain Jour nouveau.
According to the earlier Gabonese constitution, Paul Marie Yembi (the first post-independence Gabonese prime minister
), and Vincent de Paul Nyonda should have taken over as head of the state. However, a few days before the mysterious death of President Léon M'ba, the constitution was amended. Some suspect the involvement of the French government, who they say was determined to control this oil-rich nation.
Rather than return to politics however, Nyonda chose to devote his life to his writing. He ultimately became a successful playwright and was dubbed, rightfully so, "Father of the Gabonese Theater". Echoing Shakespeare, his favorite quote was: "Tout est théâtralité", ("life is a stage").
Nyonda died in Libreville, Gabon on 20 January 1995 at age 78. His autobiography Du villageois au minister published by L'harmattan of Paris depicts his incredible life as a politician, a writer, and a family man. The Gabonese university has since renamed several facilities after the author. Many African literary prizes also bear his name.
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 playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
.
Nyonda served under the administration of the first Gabonese President Léon M'ba
Léon M'ba
Gabriel Léon M'ba was the first Prime Minister and President of Gabon. A member of the Fang ethnic group, M'ba was born into a relatively privileged village family. After studying at a seminary, he held a number of small jobs before entering the colonial administration as a customs agent...
, and was a prominent political figure in that administration. He served as Minister of Public Works from 1957 until 1962 and as Minister of Justice from 1963 to 1964.
Following the sudden and suspicious death of Léon M'ba, Vice 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....
took over as head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
. When Vincent de Paul Nyonda refused to join the new government, one he deemed illegitimate, Omar Bongo ordered his arrest and imprisonment. Nyonda endured weeks of physical and verbal abuse, but a decision was made to spare his life. He was sent to a small village and cut from his electoral base.
In the small village of Mandji, away from the luxurious life that his social status had provided, he learnt to live a much simpler life. It is there that he built his house with the help of a few volunteers who lent a hand. He hunted and grew vegetables to provide for his family.
It is also during this time that Nyonda began for writing. He wrote and directed numerous plays, and hired local students to perform them. It is during one such performance that Mrs. Josephine Bongo, who was touring the province of Ngounie
Ngounié
Ngounié is one of Gabon's nine provinces. It covers an area of 37,750 km². The provincial capital is Mouila.To the southeast, Ngounié borders the Niari Region of the Republic of the Congo...
in the south of Gabon, and of which Mandji is the main city, had the opportunity see one of his plays. Upon returning to 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 :...
, she convinced her husband, President Omar Bongo, to allow Nyonda back to Libreville.
Nyonda returned to Libreville and continued to write and direct. He wrote numerous plays and books and became a prominent playwright in Gabon. Ironically he also played a president in the African movie Demain Jour nouveau.
According to the earlier Gabonese constitution, Paul Marie Yembi (the first post-independence Gabonese prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
), and Vincent de Paul Nyonda should have taken over as head of the state. However, a few days before the mysterious death of President Léon M'ba, the constitution was amended. Some suspect the involvement of the French government, who they say was determined to control this oil-rich nation.
Rather than return to politics however, Nyonda chose to devote his life to his writing. He ultimately became a successful playwright and was dubbed, rightfully so, "Father of the Gabonese Theater". Echoing Shakespeare, his favorite quote was: "Tout est théâtralité", ("life is a stage").
Nyonda died in Libreville, Gabon on 20 January 1995 at age 78. His autobiography Du villageois au minister published by L'harmattan of Paris depicts his incredible life as a politician, a writer, and a family man. The Gabonese university has since renamed several facilities after the author. Many African literary prizes also bear his name.
Published works
- Bonjour, Bessieux! Libreville: Impriga, n.d.
- Le combat de Mbombi: tragi-comédie en XII scènes Libreville: [V. Nyonda], 1977.
- La mort de Guykafi: Drame en cinq actes; suivi de deux albinos à la M'Passa; et le soûlard (Collection of Plays), Paris: L'Harmattan, 1981. ISBN 2858021848
- Epopée Mulombi contée par Ambroisine Mawiri et Victor Mbumba; écrite et arrangée par Vincent de Paul Nyonda. Gabon: s.n., 1986?-
- Le roi Mouanga: tragédie en VI actes Gabon: V. de P. Nyonda, [1988].
- Autobiographie d'un Gabonais: Du villageois au ministre (autobiography), Paris: L'Harmattan, 1993. ISBN 2738417434
- Nyonda et le théâtre [Gabon]: V. de P. Nyonda, [1994]