Vincent de Paul Nyonda

Who is Vincent de Paul Nyonda?

Vincent de Paul Nyonda was a Gabonese playwright and politician widely honored as the father of modern Gabonese theater. Born in July 1918 in Bouranga-Dibouanga, near Mandji in Ngounié province, he entered public administration and politics under Gabon's first President, Léon M'ba, serving as Minister of Public Works from 1957 to 1962 and Minister of Justice from 1963 to 1964. After M'ba's death, Nyonda refused to serve under Omar Bongo's new government, which he regarded as illegitimate; he was arrested, reportedly tortured, and then exiled to his home village, cut off from his former political base. Rather than return to political life, Nyonda turned fully to writing, producing some twenty-eight dramatic and literary works over his career, including Petit Malin (1950), Mauvais Soldat (1954), Qui est sous le Pagne (1958), Deux Albinos à la Mpassa (1973), and Le Procès de l'Homme (1990). His 1993 autobiography, Du villageois au ministre, recounts his path from village life through government office to literary vocation. He died in Libreville in January 1995. Gabonese cultural institutions, including university facilities and literary prizes, have since been named in his honor.

Sources: Wikipedia, "Vincent de Paul Nyonda" · info241.com, "Vincent de Paul Nyonda, d'homme politique à virtuose du théâtre gabonais"