JEAN-PIERRE DIKONGUÉ-PIPA : A LEGENDARY GOLDEN STALLION IN CAMEROONIAN CINEMA

Jean-Pierre Dikongué-Pipa, born on 25th October 1940 in Douala, Cameroon, is a wonderfully talented filmmaker, Author, Play writer, Theater Producer and Cameroonian actor. He became a filmmaker through theater, studied at the Cinema Conservatory in Paris. After three short-drama films (1965-1966), he directed feature-films like « Muna Moto » (1975) – which made him legendary and « Le prix de la Liberté » (1978), this brought Cameroon Cinema to international audiences. Jean-Pierre Dikongue-Pipa directed and acted in about 30 plays during his life-long career.

Dikongue’s movies deal with the inter-relationships between elements of Cameroonian traditional culture and a very wide world.

Dikongue so far, is the only Cameroonian to have won the Yennenga Gold Stallion awards at FESPACO in 1976 through his movie « Muna Moto ». He received the Screen of Honour 2016 from the Festival Ecrans Noirs de Yaoundé. This legend presently resides in Douala.

Even till date, there is a statue immortalized in Ouagadougou to pay tribute to a monument of African Cinema: Cameroonian Movie Director Jean-Pierre Dikongué Pipa. In the year 2019(February 24th), the legendary Cameroonian Movie Director, Jean-Pierre Dikongué Pipa was honored during his lifespan at the 26th edition of FESPACO. A statue to honor his talent and hard work, was erected on the film makers’ alley on Avenue Mgr Thevenoud. This event brought along a Cameroonian delegation led by the Cameroonian Minister of Culture – Pierre Ismaël Bidoung Kpwatt, who was followed by the Delegate of the Douala Urban Commmunity, Dr Fritz Ntone Ntone, the Mayor of the Douala Municipality- Mr. Nlegue Malapa and CEO of Cordia Production  L’Marie Christine Whassoum were all present for the innauguration.

This story is still cute today because Jean Pierre Dikongue entered Cameroon’s records as the only Cameroonian holder of this particular trophy. It has gone far and near. Even as years have passed Jean-Pierre’s statue still attracts alot of tourists. He earned and still holds a historical memory in the history of African cinema.

Delia Nyadi