OGOULA
“In my environment, crying, suffering,
injustice have always inspired in me the desire,
sometimes irresistible, to remedy it.”
OGOULA IQUAQUA BENOÎT
« In my environment, crying, suffering and injustice have always inspired in me a desire, sometimes irresistible, to do something about them. »
THE LAST “ORUNGU” PRINCE TO RESIST FRENCH COLONIAL RULE IN GABON
OIB transcends its racial situation by “bringing” its message to all men “without distinction of color, race or opinion”. This humanitarian claim is rarely expressed in Black Africa, and could be seen as a rare attempt at secular messianism.
OIB wanted to share with us the immensity of its ideal of light,exalting Truth, Virtue, Justice, Freedom and social progress.
OIB dares to criticize the colonial situation as a total stranglehold: “The conquest of land has given way to the conquest of minds”. “Land is only as good as the people who live on it”.
OIB proposed a new era in relations with the occupying power. He sought a revision of the “pacts” so that it would no longer be the exchange of material goods but the agreement of minds that would form the basis of the “treaties”. He was the voice and embodiment of change, a break with the past unacceptable to the colonial power.
OIB's patriotic élan, his passion for Gabon's development “... The extent of my devotion to the cause of the Gabon ...Militant in a common cause that has now been won (Gabon's independence)”. “ ...Gabon's interest would like there to be a place for everything and for everything to be in its place”.
“Massandi Povi's sermon at Olomb'Itové.
THE LAST “ORUNGU” PRINCE TO RESIST FRENCH COLONIAL RULE IN GABON
OIB transcends its racial situation by “bringing” its message to all men “without distinction of color, race or opinion”. This humanitarian claim is rarely expressed in Black Africa, and could be seen as a rare attempt at secular messianism.
OIB wanted to share with us the immensity of its ideal of light,exalting Truth, Virtue, Justice, Freedom and social progress.
OIB dares to criticize the colonial situation as a total stranglehold: “The conquest of land has given way to the conquest of minds”. “Land is only as good as the people who live on it”.
OIB proposed a new era in relations with the occupying power. He sought a revision of the “pacts” so that it would no longer be the exchange of material goods but the agreement of minds that would form the basis of the “treaties”. He was the voice and embodiment of change, a break with the past unacceptable to the colonial power.
OIB's patriotic élan, his passion for Gabon's development “... The extent of my devotion to the cause of the Gabon ...Militant in a common cause that has now been won (Gabon's independence)”. “ ...Gabon's interest would like there to be a place for everything and for everything to be in its place”.
“Massandi Povi's sermon at Olomb'Itové.
THE LAST “ORUNGU” PRINCE TO RESIST FRENCH COLONIAL RULE IN GABON
OIB transcende sa situation raciale en « apportant » son message à tous les hommes « sans distinction de couleurs, de races, ni d’opinions ». Cette prétention humanitaire est rarement exprimée en Afrique noire, on pourrait y voir une tentative, sans doute très rare, de messianisme laïc ».
OIB wanted to share with us the immensity of its ideal of light,exalting Truth, Virtue, Justice, Freedom and social progress.
OIB dares to criticize the colonial situation as a total stranglehold: “The conquest of land has given way to the conquest of minds”. “Land is only as good as the people who live on it”.
OIB dares to criticize the colonial situation as a total stranglehold: “The conquest of land has given way to the conquest of minds”. “Land is only as good as the people who live on it”.
OIB's patriotic élan, his passion for Gabon's development “... The extent of my devotion to the cause of the Gabon ...Militant in a common cause that has now been won (Gabon's independence)”. “ ...Gabon's interest would like there to be a place for everything and for everything to be in its place”.
“Massandi Povi's sermon at Olomb'Itové.
PORTRAITS
PORTRAITS
OH
consciousness
OH
Conscience
Eliwa-Bendjè/ Gabon/ Afrik occupied,
Eliwa-Bendjè trampled,
Eliwa-Bendjè humiliated,
Eliwa-Bendjè bullied,
Eliwa-Bendjè depreciated,
Eliwa-Bendjè Martyred,
Eliwa-Bendjè raped,
Deported,
Eliwa-Bendjè despoiled,
Eliwa-Bendjè dominated
But
Eliwa-Bendjè
stands
Thanks to the conscience
Of its worthy and valiant sons,
As a bulwark
And ever sentinel.
Immortal
Soul Ôroungou! Gabonese!
African soul!
- Oma's inspiration