According to a report, the former president of Gabon was named Alain Bernard Bongo at birth but changed his name to Ali in 1973 when he and his father converted to islam. Reportedly, he went to school in France, then studied law at the University of Paris. According to the report, in 1977 he released a funk album called ‘A brand new man’ under the name Alain Bongo, produced by James Brown’s former manager. Reportedly, under his father’s ministry he was minister of foreign affairs and minister of defence.