Daniel Kanza

Daniel Kanza (1909–1978) was a prominent Congolese politician and a leading member of the Alliance des Bakongo.

Daniel Kanza was born in 1909. He received a Protestant Christian education before enlisting in the Force Publique, being stationed all over the Congo. He reached the rank of sergeant. After his service he became a Protestant deacon. In 1957 he became vice president of the Alliance des Bakongo (ABAKO) party. He was arrested after the Léopoldville Riots of January 1959.

Kanza attended the Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference in Brussels on behalf of ABAKO in January 1960, and was chosen to be a vice president of the talks. He heavily criticized party president Joseph Kasa-Vubu for his attitude during the conference and his failure to consult other party members. Kasa-Vubu also pushed for a federalist government, which Kanza strongly opposed in favor of a unitary system. He and two of his sons published a series of articles in a Congo newspaper they ran that accused Kasa-Vubu of collaborating with France to divide the Congo. After Kasa-Vubu walked out of the conference, Kanza attempted to assume leadership over the party but most members remained loyal to Kasa-Vubu. Kanza was expelled from ABAKO on 1 February. On 4 March, he announced the formation of a dissident wing of the party, which became known as ABAKO-Kanza. This later transformed into the Alliance des Congolais (ALCO). Most of Kanza's support came from the Manianga area of the Luozi Territory. In October he was elected to be the first mayor of Léopoldville, serving in the position until June 1962.

Kanza was sentenced to death by the Cour révolutionnaire d'Exception (Exceptional Revolutionary Court) of Congo-Brazzaville and executed between 3 January and 6 February 1978.

Daniel was the patriarch of the prominent Kanza family, known for its members' functions in public service roles for the Congo. He married a woman named Masangaza and had seven children with her. These included Thomas Kanza and Sophie Kanza.