Vincent de Paul Nyonda

Vincent de Paul Nyonda (1918–1995) 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 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.

Published works

Legacy

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