Passion or Profession: President

Period: 1918–1975

Born in Badaya, Tombalbaye was a trade union leader chosen to head Chad's territorial government in 1959. He became the country's first president when Chad was granted independence from France the following year. Tombalbaye Africanized his name from François to Nagarta in 1973. His policies angered Muslims and other groups, leading to his assassination during a military coup in 1975.