Mathieu Ekra

Mathieu Vangah Ekra was born on February 27, 1917, in Bonoua. An early anti-colonial activist within the PDCI-RDA, Ekra was imprisoned in Grand-Bassam in 1949 by French colonial authorities for demanding African self-rule.

In 1960, on the eve of independence, Ekra co-wrote the lyrics of the national anthem L'Abidjanaise alongside Bernard Dadié and Pierre-Marie Coty. He held numerous ministerial posts over forty years and in 2000 was named Grand Mediator of the Republic, bringing moral authority and peace negotiations to troubled elections.