Jean Bolikango, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Jean Bolikango

Congolese politician (1909-1982)

Date of Birth: 04-Feb-1909

Place of Birth: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Date of Death: 17-Feb-1982

Profession: writer, politician

Nationality: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius


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About Jean Bolikango

  • Jean Bolikango or Bolikango Akpolokaka Gbukulu Nzete Nzube (4 February 1909 – 17 February 1982) was a Congolese educator, writer, and conservative politician.
  • He served twice as Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), in September 1960 and from February to August 1962.
  • Enjoying substantial popularity among the Bangala people, he headed the Parti de l'Unité Nationale and worked as a key opposition member in Parliament in the early 1960s. Bolikango began his career in the Belgian Congo as a teacher in Catholic schools, and became a prominent member of Congolese society as the leader of a cultural association.
  • He wrote an award-winning novel and worked as a journalist before turning to politics in the late 1950s.
  • Though he held a top communications post in the colonial administration, he became a leader in the push for independence, making him one of the "fathers of independence" in the Congo.
  • The Republic of the Congo became independent in 1960 and Bolikango attempted to organise a national political base that would support his bid for a prestigious office in the new government.
  • He succeeded in establishing the Parti de l'Unité Nationale and promoted both a united Congo and strong ties with Belgium.
  • Older than most of his contemporaries and commanding significant respect—especially among his Bangala peers, he was seen as the Congo's "elder statesman".
  • Regardless, his attempts to secure a position in the government failed and he became a leading member of the opposition in Parliament. As the country became embroiled in a domestic crisis, the first government was dislodged and succeeded by several different administrations.
  • Bolikango served as Deputy Prime Minister in one of the new governments before a partial state of stability was reestablished in 1961.
  • He mediated between warring factions in the Congo and briefly served once again as Deputy Prime Minister in 1962 before returning to the parliamentary opposition.
  • After Joseph-Désiré Mobutu took power in 1965, Bolikango became a minister in his government.
  • Mobutu soon dismissed him but appointed him to the political bureau of the Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution.
  • Bolikango left the bureau in 1970.
  • He left Parliament in 1975 and died seven years later.
  • His grandson created the Jean Bolikango Foundation in his memory to promote social progress.
  • The President of the Congo posthumously awarded Bolikango a medal in 2005 for his long career in public service.

Read more at Wikipedia

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