Henriette Conté, born Marie Henriette Bangoura, was an exceptional woman who marked the history of Guinea as the First Lady from 1984 to 2008. Wife of President Lansana Conté, this Christian of rare humility and kindness has won the hearts of Guineans with her unwavering dedication to peace, education and social development.
Founder of the association "Mama Henriette Conté pour la Paix", she fought tirelessly to promote living together, access to care and empowerment of the most vulnerable, through the realization of large-scale projects such as the distribution of 4500 tricycles to people with disabilities. As the beloved First Lady of the people, she will forever remain an indispensable figure in the history of Guinea, celebrated for her sense of forgiveness, her unwavering faith and her key role as a mediator in major political crises.
Introduction
Henriette Conté, born Marie Henriette Bangoura, was an exceptional woman who marked the history of Guinea with her humility, goodness and dedication to her country. First Lady from 1984 to 2008, she was a central pillar in the management of political and social crises, tirelessly advocating peace and reconciliation. His extraordinary journey deserves to be told and celebrated.
Childhood
Marie Henriette Bangoura was born on November 9, 1955 in Boké, in the Baga Tai region of Guinea. Born in a Christian family, she grew up with her parents François and Jacqueline in a peaceful environment and impressed with religious values. From an early age, Henriette showed herself wise, responsible and deeply committed to the well-being of her family.
After primary and secondary education in Boké, she continued her education at the practical school of commerce in Bellevue, Conakry. She is a studying and dedicated student who prepares to enter the active life.
Meeting with Lansana Conté
Fate will put on Henriette's road a man who will forever change the course of his existence: Lansana Conté. In 1973, this future president of Guinea was appointed commander of the military region of Boké to help the independence movement of neighbouring Guinea-Bissau. It was during this period that Henriette and Lansana met and made friendship.
Although Lansana was a Muslim and Henriette a Christian, their religious differences did not prevent them from getting closer together. Henriette appreciates the man of character who is Lansana, while the latter is seduced by the gentleness and listening of the young woman.
Marriage
After years of a discrete love relationship, Henriette and Lansana decided to get married in 1984. A bold choice at the time because mixed marriages between Christians and Muslims were rare. But their love triumphs over religious and cultural obstacles.
The new spouses settled in Conakry, where Henriette worked at Soguilec. Shortly after the wedding, an unexpected event changed their lives: in April 1984, a military coup brought Lansana Conté to power. From day to day, Henriette became the First Lady of Guinea.
First Lady of the Republic
As the new President's wife, Henriette Conté assumed a role of paramount importance. Far from fasting, she chose to be a First Lady close to the people, humble and dedicated to the national cause.
Her humility disarms everyone who encounters her. While the protocol obliges it to adopt a diplomatic language, it remains itself: kind, helpful and affordable, even in the most modest situations. Her natural nature makes her the "Mother" of the Guineans who adore her.
She is deeply believing and draws from her Christian faith the values of peace, forgiveness and mutual help that guide her actions. At every exit, it calls for mutual love and tolerance among its fellow citizens, never judging or opposing communities.
Mama Henriette Fondation
Strongly convinced that social development and education are the keys to a bright future for Guinea, Henriette founded the Mama Henriette Conté Foundation for Peace in 1997.
Through this structure, it works for the education of all Guinean children, access to care for every citizen and the promotion of women's economic autonomy. The Foundation supports many projects to help the most vulnerable: distribution of school supplies and textbooks, facilitating access to antiretrovirals for people living with HIV, micro-credit and vocational training for women, etc.
One of the most notable achievements of the Foundation is the creation of 4,500 tricycles to facilitate the mobility of people with disabilities. A strong gesture that illustrates Henriette’s unwavering commitment to social inclusion.
Death
After 24 years of reign, Lansana Conté died on 22 December 2008 from a long illness. A tragedy for Henriette who loses the man of her life in tragic circumstances, in her arms. Collapsed, she moves in a deep silence and only shows herself at commemorative ceremonies in honour of her deceased husband.
Despite this immense shock, the former First Lady continued to enjoy certain protocol privileges thanks to the support of personalities such as Alpha Condé's wife who succeeded her. Henriette Conté married again a few years later but divorced quickly.
Therefore, she devotes herself entirely to her close family and her elderly mother who lives with her. Among his latest projects was the construction of a mausoleum in honour of Lansana Conté and his desire to settle permanently in his hometown of Kamsar.
But the death of this exceptional woman came on May 12, 2020, at the age of 64, at her home in Kaporo, Conakry. If her sudden disappearance arouses a vivid emotion, she leaves behind an inheritance that cannot be destroyed.
Private life
Beyond her public aura, Henriette Conté was also a woman fulfilled in her private and family life. Although she was unable to have a biological child - a challenge she was able to overcome with dignity and faith - she considered many children as her own.
She raised 32 of her children in her own home, loving them like her own children. Her generosity was equal to her sense of forgiveness, especially when she learned that her husband had children born outside of marriage. Far from rejecting them, she welcomed them with open arms in her recomposed family.
His couple with Lansana Conté, although subjected to the strains of political life, will remain an example of love, respect and complementarity. United in good and bad times, the spouses shared everything, and the President often sought his wife's wise advice on state matters.
Conclusion
The life and work of Henriette Conté will forever remain engraved in the memories as a model of humanism, commitment and resilience. This loving and devoted First Lady of the People embodied the most noble values of Guinea for a quarter of a century.
Therefore, it would be unfair for his memory to fade away with the years. That is why many voices are raised today for a lasting tribute to him, for example by naming a street, a school or a health centre in the capital of Guinea.
Because Henriette Conté deserves to be celebrated as a symbol of hope and peace for future generations. His life remains a source of inspiration for every Guinean concerned with promoting coexistence, forgiveness and national cohesion. Its tireless struggle for education, health and the empowerment of the most vulnerable must also remain a beacon for guiding public policies.
A spiritual mother of the nation for a quarter of a century, Henriette Conté will forever remain in the memory as the First Lady by excellence, humble and benevolent, who devoted her energy to the common good and the radiance of her country. Its humanitarian and peaceful heritage is an invaluable legacy for Guinea of tomorrow.
