*** Welcome to piglix ***

Joseph Kasavubu

Joseph Kasa-Vubu
Joseph Kasa-Vubu in Israel.png
1st President of Congo-Léopoldville
In office
1 July 1960 – 24 November 1965
Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba
Joseph Iléo
Albert Ndele
Justin Marie Bomboko
Joseph Iléo
Cyrille Adoula
Moise Tshombe
Évariste Kimba
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Mobutu Sese Seko
Personal details
Born 1917
Kuma-Dizi, Mayombe, Belgian Congo
(Now Congo-Kinshasa)
Died 24 March 1969
Boma, Congo-Léopoldville
(Now Congo-Kinshasa)
Political party ABAKO
Children Justine Kasa-Vubu

Joseph Kasa-Vubu, alternatively Joseph Kasavubu, (1910 [other sources have 1913, 1915 and 1917] – 24 March 1969) was the first president of the Congo-Léopoldville (1960–65), today the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Little is known about Kasa-Vubu's youth. He born in the village of Kuma-Dizi in the Mayombe district of the Belgian Congo in 1917. His early education was in the Kongo language. He was rumoured to be the grandson of a Chinese worker brought to the Congo to work on a railroad line between Matadi and Léopoldville. His mother was a member of the Bakongo tribe. In 1925, he took the Christian name Joseph, and his parents sent him to receive a Catholic education in Mbata Kiela Kasa-Vubu went on to study theology and philosophy at the Kabwe seminary until 1939, but before graduation, he opted to become a teacher rather than a priest. He later converted to Protestantism.

Kasa-Vubu went on to work as an agronomist, book keeper and civil servant before he attained the rank of chief clerk, the highest level of employment available to Congolese under Belgian colonial rule. Kasa-Vubu began semi-clandestine political organizing work while he was still employed by colonial authorities.

In 1955, Kasa-Vubu was elected leader of the ABAKO (Alliance des Bakongo), made primarily of his own people, from around the Congo River. Under his leadership, the group swept the first open municipal Leopoldville elections in 1957, and he was elected mayor of the Dendale district of the city.

Kasa-Vubu quickly became known as one of the first Congolese leaders to call for independence. At first, he advocated for independence from Belgium on a 30-year timeline, but he shortened the timetable as the ABAKO movement gained in strength. In his inauguration speech as mayor of Dendale, Kasa-Vubu reiterated his demand for independence, drawing a reprimand from Belgian colonial authorities, which only strengthened his image as a Congolese leader.


...
Wikipedia

...