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Henri Lopes

アンリ・ロペス

Henri Lopès

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1937-09-12 （Léopoldville (now Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo)）
Died
2023-11-02 （Suresnes, France） age 86
Nationality
Republic of the Congo
Languages
French
Residence History
Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo → Bangui, Central African Republic → Paris, France → Suresnes, France (later residence)

Career

Occupations
writer, diplomat, politician, educator
Active Years
1965-2016
Affiliations
Congolese Party of Labour (PCT), UNESCO (served as Assistant Director-General for Culture and Deputy Director-General for Africa)
Memberships
Congolese Party of Labour (PCT)

Education

Sorbonne (University of Paris)
Period: 1949–1965
Country: France
Received secondary and higher education in France; active in student organizations.

Awards

Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
1972
Work: Tribaliques
Organization: Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire (awarding body)
Result: 受賞
Grand prix de la francophonie
1992
Work: for his body of work
Organization: Académie française
Result: 受賞
Honorary doctorate
2002
Organization: University of Paris XII (Paris 12 Val de Marne)
Result: 授与
Honorary doctorate
2002
Organization: Université Laval
Result: 授与
Honorary doctorate
2013
Organization: University of Sonfoniah
Result: 授与
Officer of the Légion d'Honneur
2015
Organization: French Republic
Result: 叙勲

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tribaliques

1971 short story collection

A collection of stories that satirize and portray social dynamics in Congo and Africa, dealing with identity, tradition and modernity.

legacy of colonialismidentitysocial satire
Translations
  • Translated into English as Tribaliks: Contemporary Congolese Stories

Le Pleurer-rire (The Laughing Cry)

1982 novel (satire)

A satirical novel that critiques politics and society with humor and irony, examining power and tradition.

political satirepower and corruptionculture and identity
Translations
  • Translated into English by G. Moore as The Laughing Cry

Le Méridional

2015 novel

A portrayal of the life of an African long resident in France, narrated by a writer whose life resembles Lopes's own.

immigrant experiencediasporaidentity

Il est déjà demain (It is Already Tomorrow)

2018 memoir

A memoir reflecting on his long career as a diplomat, politician and writer, interweaving personal experience with African history.

memoirhistoryindividual and politics

Bibliography

  • Tribaliques (1971)
  • La Nouvelle romance (1975)
  • Sans tam-tam (1977)
  • Le Pleurer-rire (1982)
  • Le chercheur d’Afriques (1990)
  • Le Lys et le Flamboyant (1997)
  • Une enfant de Poto-Poto (2012)
  • Le Méridional (2015)
  • Il est déjà demain (2018)

Translations of Works

  • Le Pleurer-rire translated into English as The Laughing Cry (translated by G. Moore)
  • Tribaliques translated into English as Tribaliks

Style & Themes

Literary Style
satirical, ironic styleconcise with keen observationhumor combined with social criticism
Recurring Motifs
legacy of colonialismidentity and belongingdiaspora and immigrant experiencepolitical satire

Legacy

Henri Lopes was both a Congolese politician and diplomat and one of the leading Francophone African writers. His satirical, humorous critique of politics and society has been widely praised; he received major Francophone literary awards and honorary degrees.

Academic Societies

  • Pan African Writers' Association (honorary member)
  • Académie française (award recipient)

Quotes

  • Il est déjà demain
    Source: Memoir 'Il est déjà demain' (2018)

Trivia

  • Wrote the lyrics to 'Les Trois Glorieuses', the national anthem of the People's Republic of the Congo (1970–1991).
  • Served as Prime Minister of Congo-Brazzaville from 1973 to 1975.
  • Served as Ambassador to France from 1998 to 2016.
  • Won the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire in 1972 for Tribaliques.