Étienne Goyémidé (22 January 1942 – 17 March 1997), was a
Central African writer and playwright.
He is notable as the writer of critically acclaim novels ''Le silence de la forêt'' and ''Dernier Survivant de la caravane''.
Personal life
He was born on 22 January 1942 in
Ippy
Ippy is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Ouaka, near the geographic center of the country. It is 364 kilometers (226 miles) from the city of Bangui directly. Driving distance, however, is 496 kilometers (308 miles).
...
,
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to Central African Republic–Chad border, the north, Sudan to Central African Republic–Sudan border, the northeast, South Sudan to Central ...
in a peasant family. From 1991 to 1992, he was Minister of Education and Research. In 1993, he received a grant from the
National Book Center in France. He was later appointed Minister of Education and then Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO. He was also a part of the Troupe des Griots before heading the National Troupe of Central Africa.
Goyémidé died on 17 March 1997 at the age of 55.
Career
Goyémidé obtained a degree in educational sciences as well as an English diploma. Then he became a teacher headed the Normal School of Teachers in Bangui.
He later worked in education department and was director of a printing house. He also became the director of the National Troupe of Central Africa.
In 1984, he wrote his famous novel ''Le silence de la forêt (The Silence of the Forest)''. The story focused on the story of a Central African civil servant who abandons everything to live among the
Babinga
The Baka people, known in the Congo as Bayaka (''Bebayaka, Bebayaga, Bibaya''), are an ethnic group inhabiting the southeastern rain forests of Cameroon, northern Republic of the Congo, northern Gabon, and southwestern Central African Republic. ...
pygmies. The novel was later adapted to the big screen in 2003 by
Didier Florent Ouénangaré and
Bassek Ba Kobhio
Bassek Ba Kobhio (born 1957) is a Cameroonian filmmaker, writer and founder of the Ecrans Noirs film festival in Yaounde, Cameroon. He is also the Director of the Higher Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Professionals of Central Africa (ISCAC) ...
. The film received critical acclaim and was part of the selection of the Directors' Fortnight at the 2003
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world.
Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
. In 2003, he received a special mention at the 2003
Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur
The ''Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur'' (FIFF) is a festival dedicated to French speaking films in Namur, Belgium created in 1986, reflecting francophone diversity, from Europe, Canada and Africa.
History
The festival is cre ...
(FIFF).
In 1985 he wrote the novel ''Dernier Survivant de la caravane (The Last Survivor of the Caravan)''. It focuses on the slavery of black Africans perpetrated by North African Muslims as seen through the eyes of Ngalandji who ecounts the drama of his village in
Banda country. He was the winner of the RFI competition for the best short story in the French language multiple times.
Theater work
* ''La petite leçon'', 1976
* ''Le Monsieur de Paris'', 1978
* ''Au pied du Kapokier'', 1978
* ''Mes respects Monsieur le Directeur'', 1978
* ''Le vertige'', 1981
* ''Les mangeurs de poulets crevés'', 1983
* ''Responsabilité collective'', 1988
* ''Demain... la liberté''
Author work
* ''Le silence de la forêt'', 1984
* ''Dernier Survivant de la caravane'', 1985
* ''In the Name of The Law'', 1989
Filmography
References
External links
*
Goyemide on slavery: the liberating power of the wordGoyémidé, Etienne OverviewÉtienne Goyémidé (1942–1997)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goyémidé, Étienne
1942 births
1997 deaths
Central African Republic writers