On April 22, 1995, the brilliant Cameroonian scholar and Jesuit priest Engelbert Mveng was assassinated. He was born on May 9, 1930, in Enam-Ngal, in the commune of Ngoulémakong, Mvila department, South region. In 1951, he joined the Jesuit novitiate of Djuma in the diocese of Kikwit in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On September 22, 1953, he made his first profession.
He then went to Belgium (from 1954 to 1958) where he continued his philosophical studies begun in Djuma, a curriculum he completed in Paris.
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After an internship at Libermann College in Douala (Cameroon) from 1958 to 1960, he returned to France for theological studies at the Chantilly philosophate and the Fourvière theologate in Lyon. At the end of these studies, he was ordained a priest on September 7, 1963, becoming at the same time the first Cameroonian Jesuit priest. In 1964, he defended a 3rd cycle thesis in theology entitled “Paganism and Christianity: Christianization of the pagan civilization of Roman Africa according to the correspondence of Saint Augustine”. In 1972, he defended a State thesis in History entitled: “The Greek sources of Negro-African history from Homer to Strabo”. He subsequently taught history at the University of Yaoundé. He also dedicated himself to the service of the church. He was the co-founder of a religious congregation of African inspiration: Les Béatitudes.
A critical intellectual, a conscious pariah, Engelbert Mveng contributed to denouncing the colonial and then neo-colonial system. A prolific and verbose author, Engelbert Mveng wrote numerous works in several fields which constitute the best legacy he left to African youth. An inspiring figure, Engelbert Mveng exercised (and continues to exercise) a great influence on young Africans, especially those concerned with the true decolonization of Africa. A man of conviction, Engelbert Mveng accepted to lose his life for his country which he loved so much.
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The conscious generation to which we belong once again salutes the great man he was, his memory, and prays for the continued repose of his soul. May the earth of our ancestors continue to be light for you. Thank you for your commitment. Thank you for inspiring us.
Séverin Hyacinthe Batsok, research professor
