Barthelemy boganda biography of martin

In , he was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest. In , he became the first Oubanguian elected to the National Assembly of France , where he spoke out against racism and the abuses of the colonial regime. He then returned to Oubangui-Chari to form a political organisation, culminating in the foundation of the Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa MESAN , which became popular among villagers and the peasantry.

Barthelemy boganda biography of martin

Boganda was laicized from the priesthood after developing a relationship with and eventually marrying Michelle Jourdain, a parliamentary secretary. Nonetheless, he continued to advocate for equal treatment and fundamental rights for blacks in the territory well into the s. As France conceded measures of representation to its colonies, MESAN won local elections and he gained influence in Oubangui-Chari's government, though his reputation suffered when he backed an unsuccessful economic scheme.

In French Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle proposed the creation of a French Community through which France's colonies could associate with the metropole. After being assured that Oubangui-Chari's membership in the community would not preclude it from securing independence at a later time, Boganda supported joining it. He sought to do so as part of a federation with other territories in French Equatorial Africa as a "Central African Republic", which he believed would bolster the financial situation of the member states.

He hoped this would serve as the basis for a United States of Latin Africa , a conglomeration including other countries in central Africa. This never came to fruition, and on 1 December, Boganda declared the establishment of the Central African Republic for only Oubangui-Chari. Boganda became the autonomous territory's first premier as the President of the Council of Government, and began drawing up administrative reforms and preparing for the next election.

He was killed in a plane crash on 29 March , while en route to Bangui. Experts found a trace of explosives in the plane's wreckage, but a full report on the incident was never published, and the possibility of an assassination remains unresolved. The Central African Republic attained formal independence from France in Boganda's death is annually commemorated in the country, and his presence in the national collective memory remains politically potent.

Little is known about Boganda's early life. Bobangui was particularly affected by these elements. Both of Boganda's parents died when he was young; his father was reportedly killed in a punitive campaign conducted by colonial forces shortly after his birth. His mother died before , probably having been murdered by a CFSO militiaman for not having met a rubber collection quota.

In June his brother was instructed to take him to an uncle, and along the way they encountered a French patrol led by a Lieutenant Mayer. His brother fled out of fear. Left alone, Boganda said, "Gboganda". This was probably a Ngbaka phrase meaning "I am [from] elsewhere", and he was probably hoping to explain that he was lost. The soldiers believed this was his name, rendering it "Boganda", and the name was used for the rest of his life.

By mid Boganda had completed his primary education and had indicated his desire to become a priest. The first African student at the school, he learned history, Latin, philosophy, theology, and other subjects. On 17 March Boganda was ordained. Boganda was enthusiastic about his work and was angered by local resistance to some of his teachings and practices.

This especially included his efforts which contravened local cultural norms, such as his encouragement to abandon polygamy and fetishism and work to enroll girls in school. As a result of these tensions, in Boganda was transferred to a mission at Bangassou. Some Oubanguians had already indicated that they would support Boganda if he contested a seat in the assembly, and Grandin hoped that Boganda could preserve the interests of the Catholic Church from the local growth of Protestantism and increasing leftist and anti-colonial thought in both France and its colonies.

His election was confirmed on 20 December and he was made a member of the Assembly's Overseas Territories Commission and the Supply Commission. They did not do this, and Boganda expressed disappointment at the lack of a reception upon his arrival and the weak support from French deputies for his proposals to help his constituents in Oubangui-Chari.

Boganda left the MRP in and served as an independent thereafter. After , he largely stopped attending the Paris parliament, though he remained a deputy until He paid particular attention to racism and highlighted incidents of settler violence against black Africans to boost his own political following. He also identified as a staunch anti-communist and accused colonial administrators of being "anti-French" and "worthy sons of Stalin ", making it difficult for them to criticise him.

Feeling as though his actions in the National Assembly were engendering little substantive change in Oubangui-Chari, Boganda grew disenchanted with parliamentary politics and decided to seek direct political action within the territory. Share Link Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Sign in Get help with access You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Username Please enter your Username. Password Please enter your Password. Forgot password? Don't have an account? On December 1, , Boganda proclaimed the establishment of the Central African Republic and became its first head of government. His new French-style parliamentary regime announced that elections would be held on April 5, On Easter Sunday March 29, , while Boganda was returning to Bangui from a campaign trip to Berberati, his plane exploded and everyone on board was killed.

Investigators found clear evidence that a bomb had caused the explosion, and other evidence also suggests that Boganda was assassinated, but no definite proof has ever been found to link his death to any specific suspects. Thus, the controversial nature of his leadership has been largely ignored. However, Boganda eventually became intolerant of political opposition, formed an alliance with opportunists in the local business community, backed unpopular and impractical economic development schemes, and, as an ardent assimilationist, shared many of the cultural prejudices of Europeans of his era.

In about , was taken with some other orphans into the custody of a French colonial officer, and was subsequently sent to a Catholic mission school and then a primary school at the St. From to , attended seminaries. Ordained on March 27,, and served as a priest in Ubangi-Shari from to Won election to the French National Assembly in On December 1, , proclaimed the establishment of the Central African Republic and became its first head of government.

On Easter Sunday March 29 , while returning to Bangui from a campaign trip to Berberati, the plane exploded, resulting in his death and the deaths of everyone else on board. Penel, J. Add New Article. Boganda's authority in Central Africa was immense. Even French colonial authorities realized the futility of opposing him. His agreement with French businessmen in secured financial assistance in exchange for European representation in local elections.

He proposed the creation of a federation and eventually the "United States of Latin Africa," incorporating territories from Angola to Cameroon.