Vincent de Paul Nyonda

Who was Vincent de Paul Nyonda?

Vincent de Paul Nyonda 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.