Politics

Close-up look at Cote d’Ivoire’s First Lady Simone Gbagbo

Compiled by Lou Sifa

Cote d'Ivoire's First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo
Cote d’Ivoire’s First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo

The First Lady of Cote d’Ivoire, Simone Gbagbo, was born on June 20, 1949. A former researcher at the University of Abidjan, she is now involved in politics.

EDUCATION

  • B.A. in Modern Literature, University of Abidjan (1973)
  • Teacher’s Degree in Modern Literature, Teachers-Training School of Abidjan, with the highest grade (1974)
  • M.A. in Modern Literature, with Oral Literature as her concentration, University of Villetaneuse, Paris 13, France. Subject: “Women’s image in Aboure Folklore” (Aboure is her ethnic group) (1976)
  • Advanced Degree in Oral Literature, University of Dakar, Senegal, (1981)
  • Ph. D. in Oral Literature. Subject: Drumbeat Language Among the Aboure, University of Dakar, Senegal (1983)
  • B.A. In African Linguistics, University of Abidjan, (1984)

The First Lady has attended several training programs that have significantly helped strengthen her academic background. They include the following: Introduction to Lexicography Computing (International School of Bordeaux, 1984); Introduction to Lexicography Computing (University of Montreal, Canada, 1987); Training Seminar on Terminology and Translation (Montreal, Canada, 1989); Introductory Training for the Planning and Writing of a Research Project (Cameroon, 1998).

TEACHING AND RESEACH EXPERIENCES

  • President of the Group of Research on Oral Tradition (a student club that later grew into an actual research body (1972-1974)
  • Professor of Modern Literature in a local high school (1974-1980)
  • Director of the Research Group on Oral Tradition (G.R.T.O.) (1974-1980)
  • Researcher at the Institute of Applied Linguistics (I.L.A.) in charge of the Applied Linguistics section (1980-1984)

PUBLICATIONS

  • “Women’s Image in the Aboure Folklore” (M.A. Thesis, 1976)
  • “God in three African Folktales,” published in Annales de Tradition Orale, N0 2, University of Abidjan
  • “Drumbeat Language Among the Aboure” (Doctorate Thesis, 1983; “Aboure War Lexicon” (1986)

POLITICAL AND UNION EXPERIENCES

  • Legislator representing the constituency of Abobo, near Abidjan (since December 2000)
  • First Lady of Cote d’Ivoire (since October 2000)
  • Legislator and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly (November 1995)
  • Member of the General Secretariat of the Front Populaire Ivoirien, FPI, in charge of political training and the Agricultural Policy of the party (1990)
  • Highest-ranking leader of the FPI (then a clandestine movement) (1982-1987)
  • Deputy Secretary-General, and later Secretary-General of the University-level National Teachers and Researchers Union (1980-1984)
  • National Leader of the Catholics Girls Students (J.E.C.F.) (1966-1970)