Professor Paulin J. Hountondji has passed away. He left this life on Friday, February 2, 2024.
The academic world of Benin is in mourning following the announcement of the death of the eminent Professor Paulin J. Hountondji. News of his passing spread rapidly on the internet. According to the information disseminated by the journal Bénin Intelligent, the confirmation of this sad event was provided by the president of the Association of Journalists of the Protestant Methodist Church of Benin (EPMB).
“He answered the call of the heavenly father this Friday, February 2, 2024, in his 84th year,” the media stated. It continued by mentioning that the deceased was expected that day at the General Assembly of the laity for the rehabilitation of the said church.
Who was Professor Paulin J. Hountondji?
Paulin Jidenu Hountondji, a Beninese philosopher, was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A former student of the École normale supérieure, he is a graduate in philosophy, and holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Paris-Nanterre. He has taught at the universities of Besançon, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi.
Since 1972, Paulin J. Hountondji has been teaching at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin (formerly the National University of Benin). He was also a founding member of the Inter-African Council of Philosophy (CIAP) whose scientific journal Conséquences only had one issue published.
Following the regime change consequent to the National Conference of Active Forces of February 1990 in Benin, he successively held the positions of Minister of National Education in the transition government (1990-1991), then Minister of Culture and Communication (1991-1993). Thereafter, an advisor to the President of the Republic, he resigned in October 1994 to resume his teaching duties. In 2009, he became the director of the African Center for Advanced Studies, headquartered in Porto-Novo, Benin.
