Passion or Profession: Politician

Period: 1910–1959

Boganda served for a time in the French administration of his area but he soon became deeply involved in the nationalist movement. He founded a political movement that sought independence and the uniting of central Africa. Boganda became the prime minister in 1958 but died in a mysterious plane crash in 1959, before his country gained full independence. The anniversary of Boganda’s death is still observed each 29 March because of the impact he had on the country.