“Théophile Obenga or rewriting the history of Africa through African intellectual archives”. This is the theme of the Scientific Colloquium which will have brought together from June 13 to 15, 2022 at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin Republic participants from various fields of expertise from Africa and Europe: teachers, researchers, administration and students. Final objective: to celebrate Professor Théophile Obenga for his immense contribution to the History of Africa.
This meeting was jointly organized by the "Center for critical thinking and resourceful research in Africa" (CECTRRA) of the Federal University of Abuja and the Department of History and Archeology, the Doctoral Training in Philosophy and the Laboratory ABLODE from the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) in Benin Republic.
And it is the "Idriss Déby Itno Amphitheater" of the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) which served as the setting on Monday, June 13, 2022 for the launch of the second Conference of Great African Thinkers. For participants from one of half a dozen countries, it was imperative to celebrate Professor Théophile Obenga during his lifetime.
Speaking as host of this conference, Professor Patrick Effiboley, Head of the Department of History and Archeology of the UAC, indicated that the idea of organizing this colloquium does not date from today. It is part of a vision that consists of: “restoring intellectual continuity” through speech and writing. Then he informed everyone that the University of Abomey-Calavi and its Rector had decided to raise Professor Théophile Obenga, a disciple of Professor Cheick Anta Diop, to the rank of Doctor honoris causa. “I am happy and I wish that Africans celebrate in a very beautiful way, their thinkers” he declared.
Following him, Professor Laurence Ogualé, from the Federal University of Abuja in Nigeria spoke about Professor Théophile Obenga and what he represents for everyone in Africa beyond the academic world. Then, he underlined that this symposium to celebrate him also aims to reconcile English speaking and French speaking researchers and thinkers.
It was the turn of Professor Monique Ouassa Kouaro, Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences at UAC. In her address, she said: "The eminent intellectual thinker whose celebration brings us here today, has the merit of having answered questions related to the usefulness of scientific research in Africa". Then, she continued her remarks, not without highlighting that, for her, Professor Théophile Obenga is the man who unveiled the ideological mechanisms by which several truths have been concealed from the world.
The inaugural Conference of this colloquium was given by the philosopher and eminent Professor Paulin Hountondji. His talk focused on the theme of: « La parole et l’écriture » (« Speech and writing »). But he did not fail to recall the memories he had in common with Professor Théophile Obenga, but also of his scientific father, Professor Cheikh Anta Diop. “The role of history is to enable Africans to become aware of their history,” said Professor Paulin Hountondji in substance.
For three days, the aeropagus of teachers, researchers, administrative executives as well as students will have been entitled to the most diverse and varied communications in various panels. If almost all of them aim to celebrate Professor Théophile Obenga and his work, we can say that all are part of a single and same dynamic: “rewriting the history of Africa through African intellectual archives”. Suffice to say that this kind of meetings and exchanges of an Africa rich in its diversity and which is enriched by honoring its great men and thinkers are to be multiplied in Africa. On June 15, 2022, Professor Théophile Obenga was officially elevated to the rank of Honorary Doctor of the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin.
By Jean Kébayo
