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Barthélemy Boganda
Founding father of the Central African Republic
The priest-politician who dreamed of a united Central African state.
The rise
A former Catholic priest, Boganda became the leading nationalist of Oubangui-Chari, founding a mass movement for emancipation.
What they did
He championed the dignity of his people against colonial abuses and envisioned a large federated 'United States of Latin Africa', coining the national motto 'Zo kwe zo' — every person is a person.
The full picture
He died in a still-mysterious plane crash in 1959, on the eve of independence, and his unifying vision splintered as the region fragmented.
Why it matters
Boganda remains the revered father of the CAR and a prophet of Central African unity.
“Zo kwe zo — every human being is a person.”