nPostednon March 29, 2015
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BarthelemynBoganda wasn’t born in the Central African Republic. As a matter of fact, if he hadn’t been born, there might not BE a Central AfricannRepublic!
BarthelemynBoganda wasn’t born in the Central African Republic. As a matter of fact, if he hadn’t been born, there might not BE a Central AfricannRepublic!n
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nBornnin 1910 in a part of Africa that was administered by France, Bogandanwas part of a family of subsistence farmers, which means that theynonly grew enough food and other items for the family and had notnextra crops to sell to others. However, Boganda was adopted andneducated by some Catholic missionaries. He ended up being ordainednthe first Catholic priest from that part of Africa (which was callednObuangui-Chari).
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nInn1946, after World War II, Boganda went into politics, and he becamenthe first Oubanguiannelected to the French National Assembly. He fought against racismnand also against the colonial government of his land. And, back atnhome, he started a grassroots movement among his people to opposenFrench colonialism.
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Henleft the priesthood, married, and continued to work for equality andncivil rights for black people. In 1958, the French government begannto consider granting independence to most of its African colonies.nBoganda met with the French Prime Minister and hammered out annagreement to create an independent Central African Republic.
Henleft the priesthood, married, and continued to work for equality andncivil rights for black people. In 1958, the French government begannto consider granting independence to most of its African colonies.nBoganda met with the French Prime Minister and hammered out annagreement to create an independent Central African Republic.n
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nBogandandidn’t live to see his dream become reality!
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nBogandanwas ruling the newly-autonomous territory as its first PrimenMinister, helping to write a new constitution, which was adopted innFebruary of 1959. On this date in 1959, just a month later and justnbefore legislative elections, Boganda boarded a plane to fly fromnacross the almost-independent nation—but his aircraft exploded innthe air, killing all passengers and crew.
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nBoganda designed the flag for
n nthe nation he didn’t live to see.
n nThis is the first postage stamp
n nof the new nation.
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nManynpeople thought—then and now—that the plane was sabotaged, and onennewspaper in Europe reported that experts had found traces ofnexplosive in the plane’s wreckage. But no commission was ever formednto investigate the mysterious explosion, and we still don’t know whatnhappened
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nNeedlessnto say, the people of the new nation were shocked. There was a hugenoutpouring of grief. The Central African Republic did achieve formalnindependence from France in August of 1960, but Boganda wasn’t ablento lead the new nation, as he had hoped, or even see it.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nNationalnMom & Pop Business Owners’ Day
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nEcologistnCharles Elton’s birthday
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nMemorialnDay in Madagascar
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nAnniversarynof the day the Niagara Falls stopped falling
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in March
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nApriln holidays
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nApriln birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in April
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