Vincent de Paul Nyonda, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetVincent de Paul Nyonda
Gabonese politician
Date of Birth: 
About Vincent de Paul Nyonda
- Vincent de Paul Nyonda (1918 – 20 January 1995) was a Gabonese 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 President LĂ©on Mba's sudden and suspicious death, Omar Bongo took over as head of state.
- Some suspect the involvement of the French government, determined to control this oil-rich nation.
- When Vincent de Paul Nyonda refused to join the new government, one he deemed illegitimate, Omar Bongo ordered his arrest.
- Nyonda endured weeks of torture, but a decision was made to spare his life.
- He was sent to a 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.
- He built his house with the help of a few volunteers.
- He learn to hunt and grow vegetables to provide for his family. It is in Mandji that Nyonda developed a passion for writing.
- He wrote and produced a number of plays starring villagers turned stage actors.
- It is during one such performance that Mrs.
- Josephine Bongo, who was touring the province of Ngounie, 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 eventually returned to the capital.
- 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, the "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 the age of 78.
- His autobiography Du villageois au minister, published by L'Harmattan of Paris in 1993, 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.
Read more at Wikipedia