Pascal Andjembo funeral ceremony near Paris
The first part of the funeral for Pascal Andjembo, a former journalist and diplomat, was held on Friday, January 16, at the Joncherolles funeral home in Villetaneuse, near Paris. He died in Paris on December 28, 2025, aged 80.
- Pascal Andjembo funeral ceremony near Paris
- A family farewell shaped by emotion and music
- From political engagement to public service
- His book and a life told in his own words
- The teacher remembered by students and peers
- From Villetaneuse to Brazzaville: the final journey
- What to know for the public and the community
Among those present were Ambassador Rodolphe Adada and members of the Congolese diplomatic team in France, who came to pay their final respects in a sober Paris-area ceremony, marked by family closeness and institutional recognition.
A family farewell shaped by emotion and music
Those who attended described a moment of deep emotion, softened by musical interludes linked to the orchestra Les Bantou de la Capitale. The songs gave space for silence, tears, and shared memories, as friends and relatives gathered around a life they knew intimately.
In the funeral oration, Pascal Andjembo was remembered as “father, grandfather, brother, and uncle,” with what speakers called a strong personality. The words insisted on a man who remained fully himself, and whose presence left a distinctive mark on those around him.
From political engagement to public service
Pascal Andjembo was described as a left-wing figure who trained within the Parti Congolais du Travail. His public path included political experience, presented by those close to him as shaped by commitment, discipline, and a demanding sense of service.
The text evoked a figure who valued political life as a serious calling with moral and ethical requirements. His trajectory, as recalled during the farewell, was not reduced to a single role but unfolded across several professions and responsibilities.
His book and a life told in his own words
Attendees also pointed to his writing, portraying him as someone with an easy pen and a taste for precise words. He is the author of “Quel roman que ma vie,” published by L’Harmattan in 2022, a work presented as a personal account addressed to younger generations.
In that book, he reportedly spoke about his career as a teacher, journalist, and diplomat, and about lessons drawn from national life. The same narrative also mentions periods of imprisonment and exile, without portraying them as having erased his ideological convictions.
The teacher remembered by students and peers
One of the strongest themes of the ceremony focused on Pascal Andjembo as a passionate teacher. Those paying tribute stressed not only knowledge transmitted, but minds awakened, students encouraged, and lives influenced by his way of demanding the best while remaining attentive.
In Villetaneuse, the farewell sought to underline that teaching can be a form of legacy as concrete as any public title. For many present, his impact was measured in memories and habits of thought that, they said, will remain durable.
From Villetaneuse to Brazzaville: the final journey
After the ceremony, the coffin was transported to air cargo for departure toward Brazzaville. The transfer marked the transition from the Paris-area tribute to the next stages of mourning expected in Congo’s capital, where relatives and others will be able to gather in turn.
In the quiet minutes after the farewell, people lingered to exchange short stories and condolences, keeping the tone respectful and restrained. For those who came, the day was less about speeches than about presence—showing up for a final goodbye.
What to know for the public and the community
The ceremony on January 16 was presented as the first part of the funeral arrangements, taking place in France where he died. It gathered family, friends, and representatives of the Congolese diplomatic community, with music used as a gentle bridge between grief and remembrance.
For many Congolese in France, moments like this also serve as a community meeting point, connecting generations and professional circles. In remembering Pascal Andjembo, attendees highlighted a life that moved across education, media, diplomacy, and political engagement.
