Pierre Claver Akendengué performs in his hometown of Omboué for the first time
More than 2,000 people attended a tribute concert for Gabonese music icon Pierre Claver Akendengué in Omboué on August 1. The event, initiated by Label ROMEPA, marked Akendengué's first performance in his birthplace. Michel Essonghé, president of ROMEPA, stated that the initiative aimed to correct a symbolic injustice, as Akendengué is globally recognized but had never performed in his native village. The concert featured performances by Poussy Makindo and Prisca Along, who opened for Akendengué. Akendengué, at 82 years old, performed a selection of his iconic songs, including "Nandipo," "Olando Ayilé," and "Afrika Obota." He was joined on stage by childhood friend Hilarion Nguema and Claude Damas Ozimo, revisiting songs from their early groups. A surprise video message from the President of the Republic, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who was in Gambia, praised Akendengué's career and his role in promoting Gabonese culture. The President also mentioned the possibility of a future concert at the Palais de la Démocratie. The event highlighted Omboué's potential as a cultural and economic hub, suggesting that such cultural initiatives could drive local development through tourism, employment, and artistic creation. Hugues-Gastien Matsahanga, an essayist and specialist in Cultural and Creative Industries, emphasized the need to transform the concert's emotional impact into a sustainable economic project for the region.
