Asseng Protais

Asseng Protais (1946 – 30 June 2006) was a Cameroonian playwright. In 1994, whilst serving as a professor at Indiana University, Protais made a public claim in relation to the film Junior. He believed that writer Kevin Wade and director Chris Conrad used Enough is Enough as inspiration without crediting the Cameroonian writer (the film depicts Arnold Schwarzenegger as a scientist who undergoes a male pregnancy as part of a scientific experiment).

Another well-received play by Protais, Homme Femme, was written in 1983 and won the "Prix du concours Theatral" (a concours sponsored by Radio France International (RFI)). Later, in 1991, the play Bokassa Ier earned Protais the award, "Grand prix des rencontres litteraire de yaounde".

Death Protais died on 30 June 2006 from paludism (also known as malaria or swamp virus).

Essays and articles His works often tackle gender roles, political satire, and family planning, making them distinct from other Cameroonian writers who focus more on historical narratives, folklore, or postcolonial themes. Mongo Beti is known for his political activism and novels critiquing colonialism, while Ferdinand Oyono explores themes of colonial oppression and African identity in works like Houseboy. In contrast, Protais uses humor and allegory to address contemporary social issues, making his plays more accessible to a wide audience. Some of his works include but are not limited to:

"Enough is Enough" (1978) – A satirical play promoting family planning, which won the Prix des Auditeurs du Concours Interafricain. "Homme Femme" (1983) – A play that won the Prix du concours Theatral, sponsored by Radio France International. "Trop c'est trop" – Explores themes of gender dynamics and societal expectations "Demain la liberté" - 1991