Since the sad news of Dr. Daniel Bourdanné’s passing on 6 September 2024 reached the Christian community, tributes poured in from around the world, expressing grief but also gratitude for his legacy. Dr. Bourdanné’s life and ministry had borne abundant fruit across multiple continents, particularly in the publishing sector.
“It was a long time ago when Bob Reekie [founding President of Media Associates International (MAI)] commended Daniel Bourdanné to the Tyndale House Foundation; a capable, godly young man likely to become a leader. That was the first time I heard his name,” recalls Edward Elliott, trustee of Africa Speaks and founder of Oasis International Ltd.
He remembers Dr. Bourdanné as a gracious man who never hesitated to speak truth on behalf of his beloved Africa. From his modest childhood in a village in Chad with no access to books, relying solely on oral tradition, Daniel’s parents, first-generation Christians, taught him the alphabet, but it wasn’t until he was 10 that he was able to choose to read a book on his own. Despite a lack of financial resources, he pursued his passion for books, eventually becoming a writer and publisher.
He is the author of several books, including: Ces évangéliques d’Afrique, qui sont-ils? (Who Are African Evangelicals?), PBA,1998, L’Évangile de la prospérité, une menace pour l’Église en Afrique (The Prosperity Gospel, a Menace to the African Church), PBA,1999. Under his direction, the book, Leadership pour l’excellence (Leadership for Excellence) was also published by PBA in 2002, featuring articles by seven prominent leaders in Africa.
“I am a richer man for having known Daniel,” said Edward Elliott.
Daniel Bourdanné’s impact on the publishing world spanned several generations, as many leaders of French-speaking Christian publishing in Africa can testify.
Leading Presses Bibliques Africaines (PBA)
Dr. Bourdanné served as the director of Presses Bibliques Africaines (PBA) from 1995 to 2006. Based in Benin, PBA is an initiative of the Groupes Bibliques Universitaires d’Afrique Francophone (IFES Francophone Africa). Under his leadership, numerous successful titles were published, and PBA’s influence expanded across various regions and nations.
The current PBA director, Georges Laté, acknowledges that it was Dr. Bourdanné who truly structured and developed the organization, creating a solid foundation.
In his last interview in July 2024 with Gathuku Kibunga, Executive Secretary of Africa Speaks, who was visiting him in London, Dr. Bourdanné expressed his appreciation for Georges’s work and reminisced about the early days when PBA had to relocate its headquarters from Abidjan to Benin due to socio-political unrest.
“I didn’t have the chance to serve at PBA at the same time as he did,” Georges Laté recalls. “But I worked with him in other parts of GBU, and I remember him as a man deeply committed to the cause of the Gospel. He showed the world that great things can come from Africa. It is a great honour for me to follow in his footsteps at PBA Editions and to ensure that Christian publishing remains a vital mission.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Centre de Publication Evangélique (CPE)
While General Secretary of the GBU (Groupes Bibliques Universitaires) in French-speaking Africa and Director of the Presses Bibliques Africaines (PBA), Daniel Bourdanné was invited to chair the Board of Directors for the publisher CPE (Centre de Publications Évangéliques), as Dr. Jules Ouoba, CPE International Director and Vice President of Africa Speaks, recalls.
Jules Ouoba was appointed Executive Director of CPE in June 1996, after completing his studies in France. Faced with a growth crisis that led to major restructuring, the Board of Directors decided to entrust the management of CPE to Africans. Of Daniel Bourdanne’s impact on CPE, Dr. Ouoba comments that he fulfilled his role with excellence until 2008, bringing new energy to the organisation and implementing vital structural reforms.
“Dr. Bourdanné was a humble and deeply cherished friend, an exceptional leader, and a devoted servant for whom no sacrifice was too great in service to the Lord,” he said.
Representing Francophone Africa Globally
When Dr. Bourdanné conceived the idea for the book Leadership pour l’excellence, he reached out to Dr. Joanna Ilboudo, founder of ACTS-Burkina Faso, Editions CONTACT, and the magazine of the same name launched in 1992. He entrusted her with the task of writing the article “Diriger en tant que femme chrétienne dans l’église en Afrique” (Leading as a Christian Woman in the Church in Africa). Leadership pour l’excellence features contributions from prominent African leaders offering valuable insights for those aspiring to lead the Church and society toward excellence.
Dr. Ilboudo and Dr. Bourdanné had numerous opportunities to collaborate for the advancement of Francophone Christian publishing. Dr. Bourdanné participated in the Christian Publishers’ Forum organized by Dr. Ilboudo in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where he delivered the closing address, encouraging Christian writers to use their pens as tools to build and beautify God’s Temple.
They also represented Francophone Africa at various events organized by Media Associates International (MAI) in the United States and contributed to the Africa Leadership Study (ALS) from 2012 to 2018, researching the challenges and opportunities of leadership within the African Church.
Their final encounter was in the United States in 2018, at the launching of Africa Speaks, an informal network uniting global publishing professionals with the goal of creating a sustainable and flourishing Christian publishing industry in Africa. In his keynote address at the first Africa Speaks meeting, The Call to ‘Contaminate’ Africa, Daniel Bourdanné pointed to clear and visible signs that the time has come for the Christian publishing industry in Africa to flourish. He also wrote The Resilient Christian Publishers of Africa, in which he highlights the difficult conditions facing African publishers, who therefore need to encourage each other.
“I thank God for Daniel’s life. He was a tremendous encouragement to me. When I started Contact Editions, beginning with the magazine, it was rare to find people who understood the vision, but he was one of those who not only understood but also supported, encouraged, and actively participated,” reflects Joanna Ilboudo.
One of His Final Pieces of Advice to Christian Publishers in Africa
Throughout his life, Dr. Bourdanné shared his experience and wisdom countless times, leaving many with valuable insights. One of his last pieces of advice, given during his final meeting with Gathuku Kibunga in July 2024 provides a fitting conclusion.
“We need to focus on a good editorial line. What do we want to do? What is the niche, the portion of market God calls us to serve? I can be producer of banana, but God may call me to be producer of apple. Why should I mix up? I will lose. If I am known as a good producer of banana, people will keep coming to buy the banana. […] Think carefully about your editorial line. What is your niche to serve? If you want to serve this kind of audience, stick with that and serve them faithfully. And don’t go left, right, up or down, you will not survive for a longer time,” advised Daniel Bourdanné.
The Africa Speaks Community joins the family, colleagues and friends to say, “Good night. We will meet on resurrection morning” to Daniel Bourdanné, a champion of Christian Publishing in Africa.
