Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala was born in 1941 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. He is a Congolese chemist and novelist. He held the Richard B. Fisher Chair in Natural Sciences at Bard College at Simon's Rock until 2014.
As a chemist, Dongala specializes in stereochemistry, asymmetric synthesis, and environmental toxicology.
He has written several award-winning novels, including Johnny Mad Dog (French: Johnny chien méchant) and Little Boys Come from the Stars.
Education and career
Dongala went to the United States to earn his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Oberlin College and his master's degree from Rutgers University. He later received a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Montpellier in France. After completing his education, he returned to the Congo to teach polymeric chemistry at Marien Ngouabi University. In 1981, he helped start Le Théâtre de l'Eclair with author Léandre-Alain Baker. In 1997, he became the dean of Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville when war began in the Republic of Congo. The civil war from 1997 to 1998 forced Dongala and his family to leave their belongings and seek protection in the United States. With help from his literary connections, especially his friend Philip Roth, Dongala got a teaching job at Bard College in New York State, where he taught chemistry and literature. At first, he wanted to return to his home country to work with his colleagues and improve the University of Brazzaville. However, he eventually chose to stay in the United States to continue his career as a chemistry professor and as an author.
Literary works
Dongala expanded the reach of his work from the Congo to all former French colonies in Africa. His writing focuses on the effects of French colonization and the difficult economic, social, and political challenges faced by countries where French is spoken. Dongala aims to connect people across these regions by highlighting their shared experiences. He created the term "écrits transnationaux," which means "transnational writings." He believes writers should act like a "griot," a traditional African storyteller who both entertains and teaches. In his novels, Dongala addresses problems such as unfair treatment in society, traditions, and thinking that pressures people to follow the same ideas.
Dongala's writing appears in the book The Penguin Book of Modern African Poetry. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship. A film based on his book Johnny Mad Dog was made in 2008. The movie, directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, features actors such as Christopher Minie, Daisy Victoria Vandy, Dagbeh Tweh, Barry Chernoh, Mohammed Sesay, and Joseph Duo. Dongala won the 2004 Cezam Prix Littéraire Inter CE for his book Johnny chien méchant.
Awards and recognition
Dongala received the Grand Prix Littéraire de l'Afrique Noire in 1988 for his book Le Feu des origines. This same work also earned him the Prix Charles Oulmont from the Fondation de France in 1988.
For his book Les Petits Garçons naissent aussi des étoiles, Dongala was awarded the Prix RFI-Témoin du Monde in 1998.
In 2003, he became the winner of the Fonlon-Nichols de l'excellence littéraire from the African Literature Association. This honor recognized his "literary creativity" and his efforts to support the rights of people, especially the freedom to express ideas.
Although he was not well-known before, Dongala's name appeared in Paris newspapers after the film Johnny Mad Dog, directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, was released in 2008.
His book Photo de groupe au bord du fleuve won three awards: the Prix Virilo in 2010, the Prix Ahmadou Kourouma in 2011, and the Prix Mokanda in 2013.