Antoine-Roger Bolamba
Antoine-Roger Bolamba (1913–2002) was the first Secretary of State and Minister of Information in the first Congolese government. He was a journalist with the newspaper, La Voix du Congo. He also published short stories and poetry.
Life
Bolomba was born in Boma in Bas-Congo on 27 July 1913. In 1944 was made Chief Editor of the important monthly journal La Voix du Congolais. He was appointed as a minister of the government by the first Prime Minister, Patrice Emery Lumumba. In 1963 he again served as a minister in the government of Cyrille Adoula[1]
He is known particularly for his 1955 poetry, "Esanzo, chants pour mon pays", or "Songs for my country". His early poetry was based on older styles, but his last publication upheld his pride in being Congolese and a member of the Mongo people.[2]
Bolamba died on 2 July 2002 and was buried in Kinshasa.
Works
- L'Échelle de l'araignée, 1938
- Les Aventures de Ngoy, 1940
- Premiers Essais, 1947
- Esanzo, chants pour mon pays, 1955 (poetry)
References
- ↑ Antoine-Roger Bolamba, Obituary, 2002, accessed March 2010
- ↑ European-language writing in sub-Saharan Africa, Volume 1, Albert S. Gerard, accessed March 2010