Barthélemy Boganda

**Barthélemy Boganda** (c. 1910 – 29 March 1959) na he be a Central African politician den independence activist. Na Boganda be active prior to ein country ein independence, during de period wen na de area, part of French Equatorial Africa, be administered by France under de name of Oubangui-Chari. Na he serve as de first Premier of de Central African Republic as an autonomous territory.

Na dem born Boganda into a family of farmers, wey na he be adopted den educated by Roman Catholic missionaries after de death of ein parents. Insyd 1938, na dem ordain am as a Roman Catholic priest. During World War II, na Boganda serve insyd a number of missions den afterwards na de Bishop of Bangui persuade am make he enter politics. Insyd 1946, he cam be de first Oubanguian dem elect to de National Assembly of France, wer na he speak out against racism den de abuses of de colonial regime. Na he then return to Oubangui-Chari make he form a political organisation, wey dey culminate insyd de 1949 foundation of de Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN), wich cam be popular among villagers den de peasantry. Na dem laicize Boganda from de priesthood after he develop a relationship plus wey he eventually marry Michelle Jourdain, a parliamentary secretary. Nonetheless, na he continue to advocate for equal treatment den fundamental rights give blacks insyd de territory well into de 1950s. As na France concede measures of representation to ein colonies, MESAN win local elections wey na he gain influence insyd Oubangui-Chari ein government, though na ein reputation suffer wen na he back an unsuccessful economic scheme.

Insyd 1958 na French Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle propose de creation of a French Community thru wich na France ein colonies fi associate plus de metropole. After na dem assure am say Oubangui-Chari ein membership insyd de community no go preclude am from securing independence at a later time, na Boganda support make dem join am. Na he sought to do so as part of a federation plus oda territories insyd French Equatorial Africa as a "Central African Republic", wich na he believe go bolster de financial situation of de member states. Na he hope dis go serve as de basis for a United States of Latin Africa, a conglomeration wey dey include oda countries insyd central Africa. Dis never cam to fruition, den on 1 December, na Boganda declare de establishment of de Central African Republic give Oubangui-Chari per. Boganda cam be de autonomous territory ein first premier as de Presido of de Council of Government, wey na he begin dey draw up administrative reforms den dey prepare for de next election. Na dem kill am insyd a plane crash on 29 March 1959, while en route to Bangui. Na experts find a trace of explosives insyd de plane ein wreckage, buh na dem veber publish a full report for de incident top, den de possibility of an assassination remain unresolved. Na de Central African Republic attain formal independence from France insyd 1960. Dem annually dey commemorate Boganda ein death insyd de country, den ein presence insyd de national collective memory dey remain politically potent.

## Early life
Dem know little about Boganda ein early life. Na dem born am around de year 1910 to a family of farmers insyd Bobangui, a large M'Baka village insyd de Lobaye basin wey dey locate at de edge of de equatorial forest sam  southwest of Bangui. Na ein poppie, Swalakpé, be a village head den de wealthy owner of chaw palm plantations wey na he take chaw wifeys. Na Boganda ein mommie, Siribé, be Swalakpé ein third wifey. Na French commercial exploitation of Central Africa reach an apogee around de time of Boganda ein birth, den although e be interrupted by World War I, activity resume insyd de 1920s. Na de French consortia use wat be essentially a form of slavery—de *corvée*—den one of de most notorious be de *Compagnie Forestière de la Haute Sangha-Oubangui* (CFSO), wey be involved insyd rubber gathering insyd de Lobaye district. Na coercive labour practices, violence, den disease severely disrupt traditional society by de time na dem born Boganda. Na Bobangui be particularly affected by dese elements. Na ein uncle, wey ein son, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, go later crown einself as de Emperor of de Central African Empire, na dem beat am to death at a colonial police station as a result of ein alleged resistance to work.

Both Boganda papa den mama die when e small; dem say dem him papa kill for one wahala wey colonial soldiers bring just shortly after dem born am. Him mama don die before 1915, maybe one CFSO soldier just kill am because she no fit meet rubber collection target. After that, dem give Boganda to one guardian wey join French Army for World War I den him die for Battle of Verdun. Dem come put am for another family people to take care am, and for 1920, smallpox catch am. For June, him brother suppose carry am go see him uncle, but on top road, dem meet French soldier wey Lieutenant Mayer dey lead. Him brother run away sekof fear. As e dey alone, Boganda talk, 'Gboganda'. Dis one fit be Ngbaka talk wey mean say "I dey from somewhere else", den e dey try talk say e lost. Di soldiers tink say na im name, so dem call am "Boganda", den dem use dat name for di rest of im life. Mayer carry am go orphanage for nearby town wey dem call Mbaïki. When dem reach there, one Spiritan missionary wey dey tour di area come decide say make he take am go mission station for Saint Jean Baptiste for Bétou, town wey dey down south for Ubangi River wey get school there.

For Bétou, Boganda dey learn wetin be reading den writing for Lingala. Most people gree say e be better student. For December 1921, dem carry am go the main Spiritan mission wey dey Saint Paul des Rapides for Bangui, na di capital of Oubangui-Chari. Dem baptize am there with di name Barthélemy for late 1922. E later write say, "To be Christian mean say I go free myself from family customs, make I be broda to everybody". For Saint Paul, e learn French, catechism, plus how to do farm work. By mid-1924, Boganda don finish him primary school plus don show say e wan be priest. By mid-1924, Boganda don finish him primary school den him talk say he wan be priest. For November, dem send am go Jesuit petit séminaire for Lemfu, Belgian Congo. Di school get all dis subjects like Latin, French, maths, history, plus philosophy, e go take six years to finish, but Boganda don waka come out by 1928/1929. After e no fit enter school for France because no money, e go enter Spiritian petit séminaire for Brazzaville. E spend im last year of studies for Bangui, where Monsignor Marcel Grandin, wey be di head of di Catholic Church for Oubangui-Chari, dey teach am. Once dem finish dis work, Grandin sign Boganda for Saint Laurent grand séminaire for Mvolyé, Yaoundé, French Cameroon, for 1931. E be di first African paddy wey go dis school, him learn history, Latin, philosophy, theology, plus plenty other subjects.

For 17 March 1938, dem ordain Boganda. E come dey teach for di new Saint Marcel petit séminaire for Bangui. For 1939, im bishop no gree make im join di French Army, say e need to stay back, as plenty church people don dey call back to di metropole to fight for World War II. E go Grimari area from 1941 to 1946 to preach to de Banda people wey dey there. Boganda dey very serious for im work, den e vex when people no gree accept some of im teachings den ways. Dis one wey him do usually go against local culture, like when him dey push make dem stop polygamy den fetish wahala, plus make dem allow girls go school. Sometimes when people no gree, him go fit use violence, dem even talk say him dey beat people plus one time him talk say make dem shoot stubborn chief with salt cartridge. Even with all dis, him de show small respect for some local culture, plus e dey proud say some locals dey call am mourou, wey mean leopard, wey be traditional sign of power den violence. Boganda dey feel say di church no dey support am well, plus by mid-1940s, e dey have fight with di local government administrator. E dey sense say dem dey treat am bad because of him race from colonial people, settlers, plus some missionaries. E come be wahala for him position when e born pikin insyde de Bakala region, wetin him missionary colleagues dem see as big disgrace.

## Political career

### National Assembly of France
After World War II, Grandin dey push Boganda make e enter politics. E wan make Boganda run for National Assembly for France. Some Oubanguians don already talk say dem go support Boganda if e go contest for Assembly seat. Grandin hope say Boganda go fit protect Catholic Church interest from de wahala of Protestantism plus de wahala of leftist plus anti-colonial thoughts wey dey happen for France den everywhere wey dem get colonies. Boganda talk say he go compete, and for 10 November 1946, dem elect am as deputy for Oubangui-Chari. E be first native Oubanguian wey join di assembly after e win 10,846 votes—na almost half of di total votes wey dem cast—plus e beat three other candidates, including di one wey dey there before, François Joseph Reste, wey don serve as Governor-General for French Equatorial Africa before. Baba Boganda dey roll with Popular Republican Movement (MRP) style. Dem confirm im election on 20 December, plus dem make am member for Assembly Overseas Territories Commission den Supply Commission. When e land for Paris, e wear im clerical cloth, plus e introduce himself give di oda lawmakers as di pikin of polygamous cannibal, fit be say e wan show say e get power wey no go fit finish. Grandin wan make him dey control him former student, so e ask Spiritans for France make dem welcome am, give am place stay, plus connect am with Catholic politicians, plus keep am away from leftist people. Dem no do am like that, plus Boganda show say e dey vex say no body welcome am when e land plus de French deputies no gree help am with him ideas to support him people for Oubangui-Chari.

Boganda leave de MRP for 1950 den dey serve as independent after dat. E win election to National Assembly for 1951 den 1956. He only talk twice for parliament when e dey, one time for August 1947 about how colonialism dey misbehave, den another time for June 1950 about social justice wey dey lack for French Equatorial Africa. After 1956, e no dey attend Paris parliament much again, but e still be deputy till 1958. E dey vex say colonial rule for Oubangui-Chari no dey work well, plus di local officials no wan accept change. So, e just start to dey criticize French government wey dey run di colony. E focus plenty on racism plus e bring light to di wahala wey settlers dey cause for black Africans to make sure people dey follow am politically. E get plenty wahala wey e talk about like people dey arrest am anyhow, small salary, dem force am make e grow cotton, plus dem no allow black pipo enter restaurant den cinema. For April 1947, Grandin go tell de governor of Oubangui-Chari say Boganda don 'escape from him cage' plus dey 'fly like mumu'. E be true say him talk no dey like colonization, but Boganda still dey support some French political ideas. E no wan cut ties wey dey between France den Oubangui-Chari. Him say him be big anti-communist too, him dey accuse colonial people say dem be "anti-French" plus "children of Stalin". Dis one make am hard for dem to talk bad about am. E suggest plenty ways wey go fit change how dem dey share land plus make sure say no be forced labour again, but e dey attack French colonial policy too strong wey other members no like am. So, dem no accept him ideas for de parliament matter.

#### Political organising insyde Oubangui-Chari
E dey feel say wetin he dey do for National Assembly no dey bring real change for Oubangui-Chari, Boganda come vex for parliamentary politics and decide say make he go pursue direct political action for de area. To help Oubanguian farmers make more money, spark colonial change, plus set up his own political group, for 1948 he start co-operative project, de Société Coopérative Oubangui, Lobaye, Lesse (SOCOULOLE), wey wan provide food, clothes, place to sleep, medical care, plus schooling. Boganda quickly set up de organization without checking if de staff sabi wetin dem dey do or if dem fit trade good goods, but e make sure say community healers join de management. At first, dem dey run with French money, but later dem start gist about money wahala plus dem dey broke. Boganda try use him parliament salary take support am, but de money wahala just dey increase fast fast.

For 28 September 1949, for Bangui, Boganda start de Movement for de Social Evolution of Black Africa (MESAN), wey be big political party. E write di founding code wey talk say di organization wan “develop den free di black race through progressive plus peaceful evolution, wey go happen with di help of all negroes for di whole world.” Politically, di party dey support liberty plus equality for Africans, den economically, e dey support co-operative ventures. Boganda talk say him political plan be about basic rights, e coin de Sango phrase zo kwe zo, wey mean say "every human being na person". E dey praise "peasant virtues" den de village life before colonial times, plus dem messages sweet rural farmers wey dey hear am. Plus, Oubanguians like how he no fit shy to dey vex confront colonial officials. Boganda dey try make him talk get proper church vibe plus some mystic touch, e dey always drop Latin for him speeches. People start talk say e get some kind invincibility plus some supernatural powers, den one time, plenty crowd gather for Ubangi River side make dem see am waka for water (but him no show).

MESAN activities don anger French administration plus dem companies wey dey trade cotton, coffee, diamonds plus other things. Bangui Chamber of Commerce dem dey control am, plus dem no like say dem don stop forced labour, wey make black nationalism start grow. Dem dey hate Boganda, see am like bad revolutionary wey fit spoil their 'free enterprise', so dem wan find way to push am comot. French colonists plus dem administrators don set up local Gaullist Rally of de French People (RPF) branches to fit face MESAN. Dem dey take support from government workers, clerks, plus Free French veterans wey fight World War II, de party wan collect credit for colonial reforms, but dem fail to get people to follow am well. De African Democratic Rally (RDA) wey dey for de other three places for French Equatorial Africa dey pose small wahala for MESAN, but later dem just reduce am to small groups.

Boganda no too dey mind him religious mission when him enter politics, but e sabi collect di plenty respect wey people get for di Catholic Church to him advantage, de use religious symbols for him political matter. Him bond with di clergy come start to weaken when e meet den fall for one young French babe, Michelle Jourdain, wey dey work as parliamentary secretary. As of 1949 dem dey live together, den Boganda write letter to him Catholic bosses, talk say clerical celibacy na rule wey Catholic Church create, e no get biblical backing. On 25 November, dem comot am from priesthood. Despite all dis wahala, Boganda still be serious Catholic plus dey feel for missionary matter. Di couple marry on 13 June 1950, plus dem later bon two girls pikin den one boy.

For 10 January 1951, SOCOULOLE boys for Bokanga village dey fight hot matter with some local Portuguese traders. Dem SOCOULOLE people no happy say dem dey form coalition on top their own. De  co-operative agents insist say make dem close market make Boganda fit come represent dem case. By de time e show face, SOCOULOLE don block all de roads with trees make de traders no fit carry their motors comot. Dem dey fear say wahala fit show, so de Mbaïki district head catch Boganda (plus im wife wey dey follow am) den hold dem for detention for two days. Dem charge am with "endangering di peace" plus on 29 March, di local court give am two months for prison (him wife sef collect two weeks for helping am). Since dem catch am red-handed, him parliamentary immunity no fit save am. Boganda later cancel SOCOULOLE dat year because money no dey. Boganda wey dem arrest am, na five months before next French National Assembly elections. E use am for campaign matter. For de end, e win re-election, beat challengers wey come from RPF den RDA, plus dem colonial government gree make e come back to office.

#### Work together with de French
For 1952, French government bring some people wey get reform mind come run things for French Equatorial Africa, plus that one help make tension between Boganda den di local administration cool small. For March 1953, RPF leader Charles de Gaulle come visit Bangui. But Boganda no wan see am because of im position for di party, even though de Gaulle no talk publicly about di politics for Oubangui-Chari, wey people take as say he no gree with di local RPF tactics.

For 30 April 1954, wahala burst for Berbérati as people hear say two Africans wey work for one oyinbo—wey dey treat locals bad—don die. De families wey lose their people demand say dem go arrest de Europeans, den crowd come gather for town begin dey cause riot plus dey attack public officials. As news reach Brazzaville, de colonial people start gather soldiers make dem go Berbérati, plus Oubangui-Chari Governor Louis Sanmarco dey beg Boganda make e follow am go there den intervene. Di next day, Boganda come stand for front crowd wey dey shout, come talk say, "di same justice go fit touch white pipo like e go touch black pipo". Dem bein feel better, so di crowd no dey shout again plus peace don land. Di riot worry di government well well, wey even admit for dem own reports say di racism wey di Europeans get for African pipo no be small for di place.

No yawa violence come after Berbérati riot, den as month dey pass, RPF dey struggle well well as MESAN dey grow. Boganda talk say de education den health work wey colonial people do na good one, him tell French National Assembly say "doctors, administrators, plus colonists be our padi [...] We no be ungrateful like dem dey think. We sabi how much dem don do for our country". As he dey talk to Grand Council of French Equatorial Africa, he praise Sanmarco plus yan say, "Oubangui-Chari don finally start correct thing after plenty years of egative grievances plus struggle wey no gree lead anywhere, den a better future dey come ahead." With de help wey colonial people provide, Boganda set his own coffee farm plus tell villagers make dem do am too if dem fit. As dem dey do this, dem start district councils,plus him dey go their meetings for Boda den Mbaïki, dey urge MESAN members make dem work together with de European district heads.

##### Internal autonomy den MESAN government
For June 1956, di French National Assembly pass di Loi-cadre Defferre, wey give some small autonomy to di French colonies. Di Europeans wey dey Oubangui-Chari come together, dem wan take control of di new local institutions, especially di Mayor seat for Bangui. René Naud—di European president of di Bangui Chamber of Commerce—plus some other white merchants come enter as candidates for di November election, but Boganda join di race come quick become di favorite to win. On 18 November, e win di election den become di first Mayor of Bangui.

For 4 February 1957, as per de loi-cadre, French government dey officially talk say each of di four territories for French Equatorial Africa go get semi-autonomous status, including Oubangui-Chari.  Collectively dem four territories come be one federation wey General High Commissioner go lead, with help from Grand Council. Inside Oubangui-Chari, di former French governor don turn High Commissioner, wey go dey run Council of Government, pluis dem go pick di members from di new Territorial Assembly.  For 31 March, MESAN carry all di seats for di Assembly plus on top Boganda request, dem elect Hector Rivierez to be di boss for di Assembly. E also arrange make Abel Goumba, di only African doctor for di area wey be him former catechism student, go become Vice President of di Council of Government. Di council start on 17 May, but Boganda no join as member, because e no wan dey part of government wey French commissioner dey run. E dey focus more on political organizing for federal level. Instead, e become President of di Grand Council.

Di only European minister wey dey for di Council of Government na Roger Guérillot, wey don win Boganda trust plus dey serve as MESAN treasurer. Dem give am di portfolio for economic den administrative affairs. Guérillot wan boost Africanisation for di administration, since dem no get enough trained Oubanguians, plus di change go fit weak di government plus make di French colonists position strong. E dey push Boganda make him dey attack French officials wey him call "di saboteurs of di loi-cadre." For one speech wey dem do for Territorial Assembly, Boganda talk say make French administrators comot, make Oubanguians fit 'curse dem shameful memory forever', but e still talk say e go take years to train African people wey go fit replace dem. A few days later while  him de address de Grand Council, e suggest say de colonies need new way to run things plus e dey propose make dem change districts to rural communities with trusted officials wey dey from current system to run things.

For mid-1950s, some guys wey dey study for Bangui talk say make dem build rail line from Bangui go Chad. Dem wan make sure say Oubangui-Chari fit do business well with southern Chad—wey dey face wahala from Cameroon competition—plus make some private companies happy wey dey find big government contract because foreign money don dey fall due to di political shakara wey dey happen. Boganda reason say e go make sense to start railway project if Oubangi economy fit increase well well, so e tell Guérillot make e plan how to boost production plus make life better for people.

Guérillot come with dis big plan wey go cost four billion Central African CFA francs to increase coffee trees, cotton, den groundnuts plenty. E form Committee of Economic Safety wey go get more regional bodies of European merchants plus MESAN officials wey go dey supervise wetin farmers dey produce. For 30 December, Boganda praise de committee say na 'union of capital and Oubanguian labour' plus make sure say Territorial Assembly gree make Guérillot dey go ahead. But French colonists check say de project dey risky, dem no wan put money for am, den banks plus French economic aid organizations follow dem no join too. Goumba dey reason say di proposal dey too much for di peasants, so e start to create im own economic plan. As all dis dey happen, Guérillot dey gather jobless white men for Bangui as 'inspectors' wey go manage di farming work with some African support. Di peasants no like di plan, dem see am like say dem wan take dem back to di old concession system, so dem dey protest am. Meanwhile, di press dey raise eyebrow and dem dey side-eye Boganda because e leave Antoine Darlan—Oubangui-Chari representative for French Union—from MESAN. So, Boganda dey waka around di place to calm di peasants fears plus encourage dem make dem work hard. E talk say if dem wan make Oubangui-Chari fit stand on dem own, dem gatz boost farming well well, no be by French help. People dey vex for am because dem dey criticize am, so e propose say make dem ban all politics activies. But de economic plan no gree work as e suppose, e mess up Boganda name plus make de Council of Government look bad for insyde plus outsyde, for France den Belgium too.

##### De Gaulle plus de French Community

After dem no succeed for Algiers coup game wey happen for May 1958, de Gaulle come back strong as Prime Minister for France and dey plan to write new French constitution, e dey talk say make dem check how France plus dem colonies go dey relate again. But Boganda no dey among de new constitutional committee, plus e no happy at all. De Gaulle carry am go Paris for July, den when e come back to Oubangui-Chari, e tell the Territorial Assembly say the loi-cadre no be enough for dem and the whole Sub-Saharan Africa. E talk say e need assurance of 'the people's right to self-determination plus independence wey dem go agree for.' Dem go look how dem go fit bring am in. De Assembly pass motion wey dey repeat wetin Boganda talk.

De Gaulle talk say make dem create new federal French Community wey go include di African colonies. But Boganda no gree make Oubangui-Chari join, him dey fear say e go hold dem back from independence. For August, dem do meeting for Brazzaville between de Gaulle den political leaders for French Equatorial Africa. Boganda come bring petition wey di leaders sign, wey dey ask make di new French constitution sabi say di colonies fit declare independence. De Gaulle tell am say Oubangui-Chari fit join di community but e go still get chance to waka go independence later. Dem go hold referendum for each colony to check if dem dey support di new constitution den make dem join di community; de Gaulle warn say if dem vote against am, dem go get quick independence but all di French help go see road go delta. For 30 August, Boganda tell MESAN leaders say e dey support make dem vote yes for de new constitution. Later, e waka go Oubangui-Chari to tell people say dem French go dey small time more to fix wetin colonisation don spoil. De referendum happen for 28 September plus 98% of voters gree to support de new constitution.

##### Regional unity plus de United States of Latin Africa
As di French constitution put political wahala for each territory assembly for Africa plus expect dem to gree di results of dia referendums, e still leave door open for federations. Boganda don dey worry about balkanisation for Africa for some time, plus e believe say if Oubangui-Chari gree as single state, e go lead to kasala. E use im position as President of di Grand Council to push for united state for Central Africa. E write one paper wey talk say, "If we fit join as one country with one government den one parliament, e go make our spending low well well. We go fit cut down administrative expenses den use more money to better life for our people, so everybody go chop de benefits, no be only some few special people. E clear say this kind setup go attract investment".

Boganda talk say e get new plan wey go guide French Equatorial Africa. Dem go fit get central government plus legislature. Every year, dem go change president, so each former territory go take turn to bring person wey go hold dat position. Di territories go turn departments plus ministers wey go dey supervise dem, den dem go split am into urban areas plus rural communities. Because di federation go cover wide area like Oubangui-Chari, Congo, Gabon, den Chad, e suggest say dem go call di state 'Central African Republic'. E talk say we gatz do this work sharp-sharp, e dey reason say, "Central African Republic we gatz build am today, if not, tomorrow go don too late [...] Chad and Oubangui-Chari go surely hear from other sides plus other ways". For speech, Boganda come talk say e dey see Central African Republic as way to create bigger United States of Latin Africa.Next we go check de matter of di right bank of di Congo river. As di official border na Congo no be Oubangui, we go see dat area as part of Central African Republic from now. Third, we go work to join di two Congos back together. Di fourth stage go be to form di United States of Latin Africa, wey go include Central African Republic, di so-called Belgian Congo, Ruanda-Urundi, Angola, plus Cameroon.Boganda send Rivierez and David Dacko go Gabon, Chad, den Congo make dem check how dem go fit join body. Dem no fit meet any top people for Gabon, while Chad leaders no wan hear de matter. Jacques Opangault, wey dey lead government for Congo, like the idea well well, but him get small majority for di Congolese parliament plus him position no dey strong. Gabon be di richest among di states, plus dem no gree  engage with di idea make di French people dey think twice about di federation. For late November, French High Commissioner gather all di equatorial leaders for Brazzaville. E tell dem say each territory go fit ratify dem referendums by demself plus finalize wetin dem go do for di new constitution. By 28 November, all di other places don decide say dem go join French Community as separate entities. Boganda wey dey vex, he just settle say he go proclaim Oubangui-Chari as di Central African Republic for 1 December.

##### Central African Republic

Central African Republic don carry design wey Boganda create for dem flag, e get star, di French tricolour, plus colors from other African flags. E even write di lyrics for di national anthem, 'La Renaissance'. On 6 December, di first government for CAR come start wit Boganda as di President of di Council of Government (premier), but dem still keep French High Commissioner. E dey vex for Guérillot wahala wey e cause for economy plus all di political maneuverings wey e dey do to fit enter French Senate. So, e package Guérillot go France as diplomat den put Dacko for di Ministry of Interior plus Economic Affairs. E still make some more changes for di original council, but e keep Goumba as Minister of State and di real vice president of di council.

Di new government first move be to pass law wey go ban nudity plus vagrant pipo. Di main aim be to write constitution. E get democratic feel, di document talk say e get one parliament wey go last for five years plus prime minister go dey for di same time. Di text no be completely original, e borrow from French constitution, but Boganda still put im mark for di preamble plus make sure say dem include one clause wey go allow di country fit join bigger union. Di draft wey dem approve for assembly on 16 February 1959. Boganda come begin show im hand for major administrative change, like make rural den urban municipalities, create district councils wey get plenty power, plus set up mutual development groups too. Di government come fit draft new electoral areas plus plan election for Legislative Assembly on 5 April. Boganda sef oversee di picking of MESAN candidates plus him agree say make dem put five Frenchmen for di list too. Di government sef don create new law wey dey for election matter wey talk say civil servants no fit run for office unless dem don take leave for at least six months before di polling day. Plus, di law require say all parties go fit nominate dem candidates for list, no be one by one. Den if one candidate no qualify, dem go dismiss de whole list. As e be so, court throway all di opposition list, making MESAN no get anybody to contest. Di opposition politicians dey vex, den when dem ask Boganda about di lack of opposition for parliament, e tell di press, "We go fit create our own opposition insyde our party."

## Death

### Plane crash
On 29 March 1959 na Boganda board a Nord Noratlas plane at Berbérati, wer na he dey campaign, for a flight to Bangui. Na de plane be owned by *Union Aéromaritime de Transport*, wich transport de mail between de two cities. Na de plane go missing, wey na dem discover ein wreckage de day wey dey follow insyd de district of Boda. Na dem find dead all four crew den five passengers, wey dey include de government ein information chief den a member of de Assembly. Na dem recover Boganda ein body from de pilot ein cabin.

Di French General Secretariat of Civil Aviation don order investigation plus send team go check di crash site. Dem no publish any report, but soon after, di Paris weekly L'Express talk say di investigators find traces of explosive for di wreckage. Di French High Commissioner don order make dem suppress all copies of di reporting edition for Central African Republic. No one don sabi wetin really cause di crash; e still dey mystery. Plenty Central Africans dey believe say di crash na assassination; especially, dem suspect say some expatriate businessmen wey dey from di Bangui Chamber of Commerce fit do am, maybe with help from di French secret service. Michelle Jourdain too dey under suspicion; by 1959, di wahala between Boganda plus im wife don spoil well well, den e dey think say make e kuku leave am den go back to priesthood. She even get big insurance policy for im life, wey she take out just few days before di accident happen. Historian Gérard Prunier talk say "de wahala of foul play dey very high", e add say, "The white people wey dey work for wetin dey remain from de Grandes Compagnies Concessionaires no like Boganda, wey help finish compulsory labor wahala for 1946. Dem still no like him smartness, wey dey disturb their view say blacks dey inferior".

#### Political consequences

E be small wahala wey dey happen for Mbaïki, but di country take Boganda death matter calm-ly. Some people wey dey follow am talk say he no die, he go come back later for de future. Dem do im funeral for 3 April for outside Notre-Dame Cathedral for Bangui, plenty people show face, Robert Lecourt dey represent French government plus Raymond Janot dey represent French Community. Charles Féraille, one priest wey sabi Boganda well well, talk say God don choose am to lead di country. Goumba come take replace am as interim President of di Council of Government, while Étienne Ngounio don take di Mayor office for Bangui plius di MESAN party leadership. Dem make Boganda seat for Parliament empty wen dem do election for 5 April, wey MESAN just win, but di people wey go vote drop plenty. Since di founder don waka go , MESAN hardly dey exist again, na only name e remain.

Dacko, wey get support from French High Commissioner, Bangui Chamber of Commerce, plus Jourdain, come put himself for lead de Council of Government. Goumba no wan scatter de people, so after one month for power, he gree make Dacko take de presidency. Dacko dey do plenty admin work, plus even though he don keep Goumba as Minister of State for some time, he later sack am after some months. For 1960, Goumba come start new political party wey be Democratic Evolution Movement of Central Africa (MEDAC), plus ein talk say e dey carry de vision of Boganda den MESAN. Dacko dey fear as e dey grow fast, so he talk say he go bring MESAN back. Under him government, dem no dey focus on poor people again; dem wan create new money people, mostly dem wey dey get big salaries. Central Africa get im full independence from France on 13 August 1960. Dacko push plenty things for Assembly wey make am be President for di Republic den head of state, plus give di government power wey fit shut down any political opposition. By 1962, him don arrest Goumba den talk say MESAN na di only party wey dey for di state.

## Legacy

#### Commemoration den political legacy

Di Legislative Assembly talk say Boganda be di "Father of di Nation" for June 1959. After him die, dem give am Knight of di Legion of Honour, Grand Cross of di Order of Central African Merit, plus Commander of di Order of Agricultural Merit. Di Boganda National Museum, wey dem name after di former premier plus dey for him old Bangui house, open for 1966. Dem also name one secondary school plus one avenue after am, plus dem build statue for him for di independence memorial for di capital. Jean-Bédel Bokassa, wey lead Central Africa from 1966 to 1979, dey hype Boganda as de boss wey start MESAN den de republic. Every year, we dey celebrate Boganda Day for 29 March to remember im death.

People still dey talk say Boganda no fit die even after him pass away, plus him memory dey still strong for Central Africa, make people come together well, both de brodas wey dey on top plus de common folks. Him slogan, zo kwe zo, don enter di state coat of arms. De preamble of di 2004 constitution of de republic talk am like dis: "We dey motivated by de wish wey go make man fit hold im dignity based on di principle of 'ZO KWE ZO' wey di Founder of di Central African Republic Barthélemy BOGANDA talk". But e be true say de leaders wey come after am no really study im political ideas. Historian Klaas van Walraven talk say, "di meaning wey e get for now fit dey based on how he behave plus di plenty people wey no sabi im ideas".

##### Historiography
Historian Georges Chaffard talk say Boganda na di "sweetest plus di most sabi politician for Equatorial". Prunier go even add say him be "probable di most talented plus creative politician wey come out for French Africa decolonization". Another historian, Brian Titley, suggest say Boganda wey die "take away charismatic leader for di country" wey fit hold legitimacy plus long term make General Bokassa fit overthrow Dacko den take military power insyde 1966.

Boganda life dey show for French language history, but plenty wey dem don write about him life story, especially Central African writers, e be hagiography way dem dey talk. Him ideas den speeches don enter plenty political philosophies general analysis. For English history, dem no dey talk about Boganda much, plus if dem talk am, na mostly for him Pan-African project wey dey try join Africa together.

## References


## Works dem cite

* 
* 
* 
* 
* 

* 
* 
* 
* 

* 
* 
* 
* 

* 
* 
* 
* 

## Read further
* 
* 

## External links