Hadja Andrée Touré (born 1934) is an emblematic figure in the history of Guinea as the wife of Ahmed Sékou Touré, the first president of the Republic of Guinea. The daughter of a French military doctor and a Guinea woman, she grew up in a mixed environment before marrying in 1953 the one who was about to become the leader of Guinea's independence.
Discreet but present alongside her husband during her quarter-century in power, Andrée Touré experienced the political and social upheavals of this crucial period. Arrested and imprisoned after the death of Sékou Touré in 1984, she had to go into exile before returning to Guinea in 2000, publishing in 2023 an autobiographical book "Ma Vie auprès d'Ahmed Sékú Touré" to defend the legacy of her late husband.
Introduction
Hadja Andrée Touré, born in 1934, is an emblematic figure in the history of Guinea. As the wife of Ahmed Sékou Touré, the first president of the Republic of Guinea, she played a key role in the events that shaped the country after its independence. Her journey, intertwined with that of her husband, testifies to the political and social upheavals of a crucial time for the Guinean nation.
Education
Andrée Touré was born in a Métis family, daughter of a French military doctor, Dr. Paul Mary du Plantier, and a Guinea woman, Kaïssa Kourouma. From an early age, she was confronted with the cultural diversity that marked her identity. After obtaining her primary education certificate at the age of 12 in 1946, she continued her studies at the Conakry Girls' College, held by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. It was there that she acquired a solid training, obtaining the elementary patent before becoming secretary of the women's association of the French Union.
Marriage with Sékou Touré
It was at her uncle Sinkoun Kaba that the young Andrée met her future husband, Ahmed Sékou Touré. Despite the obstacles associated with their different social status and the opposition of some influential circles of the time, their union was celebrated on 18 June 1953, according to Muslim rites, at the great mosque of Kankan. This marriage, both arranged by the families and desired by the future spouses, sealed their common destiny at the heart of the historical turmoil that shook Guinea.
First Lady of the Republic
Alongside her husband, Andrée Touré lived through the crucial period of the country's access to independence and the first years of the exercise of power of Ahmed Sékou Touré. Although discreet on the political scene, she sought to assert a social role by converting to Islam and representing her husband at certain official receptions. Her unwavering support for her husband has been an essential pillar during the tumultuous years of the construction of the new Guinea nation.
After the death of Sékou Touré
The death of Ahmed Sékou Touré on March 26, 1984 marked a sudden turning point in André Touré's life. A few days after her husband's disappearance, a coup d'état took place, leading to her and her son Mohamed's arrest. Their property was confiscated, and Andrée Touré was sentenced to eight years of forced labour in 1987. Released in early 1988, she had to leave Guinea for Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, before returning to her home country in 2000.
Publication
In 2023, Andrée Touré published an autobiographical book entitled "Ma Vie auprès d'Ahmed Sékou Touré" for Harmattan Guinea. In this book, she traces her journey alongside her husband, the struggle for independence, their travel around the world and their life together. This book offers a valuable testimony about a crucial period in the history of Guinea, seen through the intimate prism of the First Lady of the Republic.
Conclusion
Andrée Touré's life is inseparable from that of Ahmed Sékou Touré and the history of independent Guinea. Her journey, marked by ups and downs, illustrates the challenges faced by women of her time, ranging between their traditional role and their desire for emancipation. A privileged witness of a cruel time, Andrée Touré was able to preserve the memory of her husband and to contribute to the understanding of this tormented period, thus offering a valuable legacy to future generations.
