Bendjè
Bendjè, or Bendjè y'Oganga "Great Pygmy Doctor" attached to the Aboulia tribe. He was the compass, the "Supreme Guide" of the Orungu people on their descent to the sea, led by King Réto-Ndongo. Bendjè had promised the king and his people the discovery of a great and beautiful country.
And so it came to pass. Arriving in the promised land, it was time to find a name for the new country. As usual, the Orungu retired with the king in conciliation to deliberate on the choice of name.
They decided to name the new country after their guide "Bendjè", as a sign of gratitude and "Gratitude". And they named it "Eliwa-Bendjè", meaning "Bendjè Country".
This choice reveals the humility and greatness of spirit of King Reto-Ndongo and his people.
Today, the zealous people would have demanded that the country be named after their king. What's more, the king would have demanded that his name be sung.
Bendjè, a true sentinel devoted to the people's cause, has been inducted into the Pantheon of our "Great Men".
He was a scholar, a connoisseur of the country, a doctor of geography (Professor Louis-Marc Ropivia).
