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Chantal Biya
First Lady of Cameroon since 1994 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Chantal Biya (née Chantal Pulchérie Vigouroux; born 4 December 1970) is a Cameroonian public figure, who is serving as the First Lady of Cameroon since 1994 as the wife of President Paul Biya.
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Early life
Chantal Biya was born in Dimako, East Province, Cameroon.[1] Her father was French expatriate Georges Vigouroux. Her mother, Rosette Ndongo Mengolo, was a Miss Doumé pageant winner. Her mother was elected mayor of Bangou following the July 2007 municipal elections.[2] She spent her adolescence in Yaoundé.[3]
Philanthropy
She established the Fondation Chantal Biya in 1994.[4] In 1996, she hosted the inaugural First Ladies Summit in Yaoundé.[5] The Jeunesse active pour Chantal Biya is an organ of her husband's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement.[6]
Corruption
Paul and Chantal Biya's corruption and the theft of national assets of Cameroon has been well-documented.[by whom?] With her son Franck Hertz, she purchased apartments in Paris despite no visible income.[citation needed] U.S. diplomatic cables confirm endemic corruption in Cameroon, which reportedly amounted to more than $650 million between 2017 and 2022.[7]
Bertrand Teyou
In November 2010, Bertrand Teyou published a book, La belle de la république bananière : Chantal Biya, de la rue au palais (English: "The Belle of the Banana Republic: Chantal Biya, from the Streets to the Palace"),[8] tracing Biya's rise from humble origins to become First Lady.[9][10] He was subsequently given a two-year prison term on charges of "insult to character" and organising an "illegal demonstration" for attempting to hold a public reading.[9][10]
Amnesty International and PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee both protested his arrest and issued appeals on his behalf. Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience.[10][11] He was freed in April 2011 when a well wisher agreed to pay his fine in order that he might seek treatment for his worsening health.[12]
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Personal life
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She married Paul Biya, who is 36 years her senior, on 23 April 1994, after his first wife, Jeanne-Irène Biya, died in 1992.[13][9]
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She has twin sons Franck and Patrick Hertz (born 1987) with her first husband.[14] With Paul Biya, she has two children: Paul Jr. and Brenda Biya.
Chantal Biya is known for her elaborate hairstyles.[9][15] Particularly Mrs. Biya's use of wigs,[16] her signature style is called the banane, and is used for formal occasions.[17] Biya has popularised other styles. Collectively, they are known as the Chantal Biya.[18] She is known for her exotic dresses, including designer dresses, and for her designer purses. Among her favourite designers are high-end European labels such as Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton.[9]
At a global First Ladies meeting in New York, 2008
The Obamas with Chantal and Paul Biya, 2009
The Obamas with Chantal and Paul Biya, 2014
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References
Bibliography
External links
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