Boubou Hama
Encyclopedia
Boubou Hama was a Niger
ien author, historian, and politician. He was President of the National Assembly of Niger
under President of Niger, Hamani Diori
.
and began his career as a teacher, in the mid 1920s becoming the first French-trained primary school teacher from what would soon become Niger. As a writer he worked in many genres including history and theater. His writing gained international attention when his autobiography Kotia-nima won the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire. His essay on African education won the Senghor Prize in the same year. His histories are said to place a great value on oral literature.
. Following independence in 1960, the PPN became the ruling and sole legal party in Niger, and Hama became President of the National Assembly of Niger
from 1961-1964. He was also one of the most prominent, and perhaps most powerful, members of the PPN politburo
, which became the effective ruling body of the nation. One writer has called Boubou Hama the "eminence grise" behind Diori's rule. The National Assembly of Niger
met in largely ceremonial yearly sittings to ratify government positions. Traditional notables, elected as parliamentary representatives, often unanimously endorsed government proposals. Diori was re-elected unopposed in 1965 and 1970, but overthrown by military coup in 1974.
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
ien author, historian, and politician. He was President of the National Assembly of Niger
National Assembly of Niger
The unicameral National Assembly of Niger is the country's sole legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation.-History:...
under President of Niger, Hamani Diori
Hamani Diori
Hamani Diori was the first President of the Republic of Niger. He was appointed to that office in 1960, when Niger gained independence.- Youth :...
.
Life and works
Hama was born at Fonéko, a small Songhai village in western Niger. He studied at the École normale supérieure William PontyÉcole normale supérieure William Ponty
École William Ponty was a government teachers' college in what is now Senegal. The school is now in Kolda, Senegal, where it is currently known as École de formation d’instituteurs William Ponty. It is associated with the French university IUFM at Livry-Gargan.-Notable alumni:Many of the school's...
and began his career as a teacher, in the mid 1920s becoming the first French-trained primary school teacher from what would soon become Niger. As a writer he worked in many genres including history and theater. His writing gained international attention when his autobiography Kotia-nima won the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire. His essay on African education won the Senghor Prize in the same year. His histories are said to place a great value on oral literature.
Political career
Hama had been one of the founders of the Nigerien Progressive Party (PPN), a regional branch of the African Democratic Rally (RDA), and rose to become a close adviser of party leader and Deputy to the French National Assembly Hamani DioriHamani Diori
Hamani Diori was the first President of the Republic of Niger. He was appointed to that office in 1960, when Niger gained independence.- Youth :...
. Following independence in 1960, the PPN became the ruling and sole legal party in Niger, and Hama became President of the National Assembly of Niger
National Assembly of Niger
The unicameral National Assembly of Niger is the country's sole legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation.-History:...
from 1961-1964. He was also one of the most prominent, and perhaps most powerful, members of the PPN politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
, which became the effective ruling body of the nation. One writer has called Boubou Hama the "eminence grise" behind Diori's rule. The National Assembly of Niger
National Assembly of Niger
The unicameral National Assembly of Niger is the country's sole legislative body. The National Assembly may propose laws and is required to approve all legislation.-History:...
met in largely ceremonial yearly sittings to ratify government positions. Traditional notables, elected as parliamentary representatives, often unanimously endorsed government proposals. Diori was re-elected unopposed in 1965 and 1970, but overthrown by military coup in 1974.