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Flag of Gabon. Photo by Central Intelligence Agency- Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Most Famous People from Gabon

Gabon, a Central African country, acquired independence from France on this day in 1960. France seized command in 1839 and Gabon’s capital, Libreville (Free Town), got its name after French forces freed slaves there in 1849.

It gained independence in 1960 and operated primarily as a one-party state until 1991, when a constitutional amendment introduced multiparty democracy.

1.Catilina Aubameyang

Catilina Aubameyang, the son of footballer Pierre Aubameyang and the half-brother of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, was born in Gabon and grew up playing football. He has previously played for A.C. Reggiana and A.C. Milan. He also played for the French youth team at one point.

2.Omar Bongo

State visit by President Bongo of Gabon; President Bongo and Prime Minister Lubbers. Photo by Croes, Rob C.- Wikimedia commons

El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba was born on December 30, 1935, and died on June 8, 2009. He was a Gabonese politician who served as the country’s second President for 42 years, from 1967 until his death in 2009.

Omar Bongo rose through the ranks as a young official under Gabon’s first President, Léon M’ba, before being elected Vice-President in his own right in 1966. Following the death of M’ba in 1967, he became Gabon’s second President.

Bongo led the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDGsingle-party )’s regime until 1990, when he was obligated to initiate multi-party politics in Gabon due to public pressure. Despite extensive opposition to his rule in the early 1990s, his political survival appeared to be based on retaining power by enlisting the support of the majority of the significant opposition leaders at the time.

The presidential election in 1993 was incredibly divisive however, he was re-elected that year, as well as in 1998 and 2005. With each election, his respective parliamentary majorities grew, and the opposition became more understated.

Bongo became the world’s longest-ruling non-royal leader after Cuban President Fidel Castro stepped down in February 2008. He was one of the non-royal rulers with the longest reign since 1900.

Bongo was chastised for essentially working for himself, his family, and wealthy populations rather than Gabon and its citizens.

For example, French green politician Eva Joly stated that during Bongo’s long tenure, notwithstanding oil-driven GDP per capita growth to one of the top ranks in Africa, Gabon built only 5 km of freeway per year and still had one of the world’s highest infant mortality rates by the time he died in 2009.

Following his father’s death in June 2009, Bongo’s son Ali Bongo, who had long been delegated key ministerial obligations, was appointed to succeed him in August 2009.

3.Eudoxie Mbouguiengue

The 33-year-old model is best known as the wife of American rapper and actor Ludacris, real name Christopher Brian Bridges. Mbouguiengue, who was born on May 14, 1986, in Gabon to an American father and a Gabonese mother, spent the majority of her childhood in the French-speaking country of Gabon before relocating to the United States.

She is now not only a model with over a million Instagram followers, she is also a writer and the pioneer of Unspoken Angels, a charity fundraiser that raises money to promote awareness about sexual and mental abuse. She married Ludacris in 2014, and they have a lovely daughter named Cadence.

4.Correia Silva

Basketball court. Photo by LOGAN WEAVER- Unsplash

 On September 19, 1996, Correia Silva was born. He is a Gabonese professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association’s Atlanta Hawks (NBA). He was a South Carolina Gamecocks basketball player.

On July 11, 2019, the Miami Heat signed Silva. The Heat modified his contract to a two-way deal with their NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, on October 19. Silva made his NBA  appearance on October 23rd, coming off the bench in a 120-101 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

He completed with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Silva decided to sign a basic NBA deal with the Heat on January 15, 2020. Silva was delegated to the Sioux Falls Skyforce on January 23.

On January 26, Silva was reassigned to the Miami Heat. The Heat advanced to the 2020 NBA Finals, but were defeated in six games by the Los Angeles Lakers.

5.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The Gabonese professional footballer plays as a forward for Premier League club Arsenal and is the Gabonese national team captain. He is widely regarded for his speed, finishing ability, and off-the-ball mobility.

He has performed for various European teams and gained attention in 2018 when he left Borussia Dortmund for Arsenal in a £56 million ($71 million) contract. He was the most highly priced African player at the time, and he is still one of the most highly priced Gabonese players.

6.Anthony Obame

Anthony Obame Mylann was born in Libreville, Gabon, on September 10, 1988. He is a taekwondo practitioner who has represented Gabon at the Summer Olympics in 2012, 2016 and 2020.

Retired two-time world champion Juan Antonio Ramos is presently coaching Obame.

At the 2012 Olympic Games, he won a silver medal in the men’s 80+ kg category, being the first Gabonese athlete to do so.

Obame beat Kaino Thomsen and Bahri Tanrikulu on his way to the gold medal tournament, where he was beaten by Carlo Molfetta of Italy. Obame led the tournament however, lost on a judge’s decision after it was tied. Obame expressed disappointment over what he called a “youthful mistake.”

Thousands of supporters welcomed Obame upon his return to Libreville. Obame expressed “enormous pride and joy” at winning the country’s first Olympic medal.

Obame competed in the +80 kg division for Gabon at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In the first round, he was beaten by Mahama Cho of the United Kingdom. He carried Gabon’s flag in the Parade of Nations.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Obame competed in the men’s +80 kg class.

7.Stephane Lasme

The Gabonese professional basketball player played college basketball for the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen before being drafted in the second round, 46th overall, by the Golden State Warriors in the 2007 NBA draft.

He was named to the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2014 and won the EuroLeague Best Defender award in 2013. Lasme grew up in Gabon as a great athlete however, as he grew taller, he eventually realised his basketball prospect.

Lasme relocated to the United States in 2003, after making his public appearance in 2002 and enrolled at Emmanuel College while residing with his cousin in Boston, Massachusetts.

He was visited by University of Massachusetts Head Coach Steve Lappas and was quickly provided with a scholarship to play for the UMass Minutemen due to his athletic abilities. Gabon’s first Division I athlete.

8.Bruno Ecuele Manga

Bruno Ecuele Manga was born on the 16th of July, 1988. He is a Gabonese professional footballer who represents Gabon on the national team. He has a reputation for being a tough tackler.

In 2006, he joined French club Bordeaux after starting his career with FC 105 Libreville in his home country. He performed for the team’s reserve team and spent time on loan with lower division side Rodez however, only made one senior debut before being released in 2008.

He then moved to Ligue 2 side Angers, where he made over 50 performances in two seasons before joining Lorient in 2010 for a fee of €2.5 million.

He made his Ligue 1 appearance with Lorient and went on to make over 100 performances in France’s top flight. He was named club captain ahead of the 2012-13 season and held the position until 2014, when he joined Championship team Cardiff City for €5 million.

He played four seasons in the Championship before helping the team gain advancement to the Premier League after coming second in the Championship in 2017-18.

Manga began his international career for Gabon in 2006 and has 87 caps to his name, appearing in four Africa Cup of Nations matches.

9.Patience Dabany

A microphone on stage. Photo by BRUNO EMMANUELLE- Unsplash

Before President Omar Bongo died in 2009 and her son Ali Bongo took over, the Gabonese singer and musician served as Gabon’s First Lady for 42 years. The 74-year-old, who is now pursuing a music career and her then-husband created the Gabonese Democratic Party.

During her time in office as First Lady, she was responsible for advancing women’s rights, organizing charities for children, and other community programmes. She chose to pursue a career in music around 1986 after growing up in a musical family and singing at a young age.

She is recognised for hit albums like Levekisha, Cheri Ton Disque Est Rayé, Associé, and Patience Dabany.

Her 2004 world music album Obomiyia enabled her to tour Europe with James Brown and she is still regarded as one of Africa’s biggest musical influencers.

10.Rolly Lumbala

The 33-year-old is a former Canadian Football League fullback (CFL). He was recruited to training camp as a fullback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League however, he never made the team. He was selected by the BC Lions in the second round of the 2008 CFL Draft.

He recently signed a two-year contract renewal with the BC Lions, making him the team’s longest-tenured player, with ten seasons – all with BC – under his belt.

“Rolly is not only an extremely durable and valuable member of our team, but he’s also one of the most prominent players in our league… “He illustrates everything we expect of our players on and off the field,” his head coach, Wally Buono, said.