Elisabeth Mweya Tol'Ande

Elisabeth Françoise Mweya Tol'Ande (born 7 July 1947) is a poet and journalist from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Tol'Ande was the winner of the Sébastien Ngonso Prize for Poetry in 1967 and the Mobuto Seseko Prize for Poetry in 1972. She received the Bronze Medal of Arts, Science and Letters Merit in 1970.

Early life and education Tol'Ande was born in Kinshasa on 7 July 1947. Her mother made money by selling food at the market, and her father was a mechanic. She began studying at a Catholic school (Lycée Marie-Thérèse de Lisieux) at age ten, and developed an interest in becoming a nun. She entered a Catholic convent in 1965, but was dismissed "because of an indiscretion". After leaving the convent, she pursued a State Diploma in Literature (completed 1969) and a Diploma in Journalism (completed 1984).

Personal life Mweya Tol'ande has seven children and several grandchildren. She is an Evangelical Christian.

Publications

Parole de Femmes, a bulletin of liaison (essay) (short story) (poetry)

(Narrative memoir)