Jean Konan Banny

Jean Konan Banny (July 14, 1929[1] – May 27, 2018)[2] was an Ivorian politician of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI). He is the brother of Charles Konan Banny, a former Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire.[3]

A lawyer, Banny served as Minister of Defense for Côte d'Ivoire from its independence in 1960 to 1963.[1] In 1963, he was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death on charges of participating in President Félix Houphouët-Boigny's "complot du chat noir" (black cat conspiracy).[1] Meanwhile, his office was transferred to Kouadio M'Bahia Blé whose ministership lasted more than 17 years.[4] There was discontent in the army, as the generals stirred following his arrest and Houphouët-Boigny had to intervene personally to sedate the army.[5]

Banny, who personally knew Houphouët-Boigny from childhood, was pardoned and released in 1967.[1] He asked Banny to be the mayor of Yamoussoukro, though Houphouët-Boigny's successor, Henri Konan Bédié, appointed Banny as Resident Minister of the capital.[1] The Resident Minister is a member of the Council of Elders of the PDCI, which includes roughly a hundred elders.[1]

He also directed the Société fruitière du Bandama, an industrial company, which produces and exports fruit juice, mainly that of pineapples.[1] The company created the popular drink Cristelor in 1983.[6] Described as a delice d'ananas petillant, French for sparkling pineapple delight, it is popularly called pineapple champagne.[6] Banny claimed the idea "came to [him when he thought] to make a wine from pineapples" and was named after his granddaughter Cristel. He also proposed an alcoholic version of the drink.[6]