André Matsoua
Encyclopedia
André Grenard Matsoua was a Congolese
Lari
religious figure and politician, perhaps the most influential figure in Congolese politics before independence in 1960. However, he had more influence after his death than during his life.
In the late 1920s, Matsoua founded Amicale des Originaires de l'A.E.F., a self-improvement group, while living in Paris
. He attended events sponsored by the French Communist Party
and helped develop black-based trade union
s. When he returned to Africa, he was repeatedly imprisoned by the colonial government and died in prison in 1942.
The Amicale then developed highly political and spiritual elements when its members adopted Matsoua as the messiah
and became heavily involved in anti-French subversion.
After independence, Congolese politicians of many ideological shades attempted to capitalize on Matsoua's popularity, including Presidents Abbé Fulbert Youlou
, Alphonse Massamba-Débat, and Denis Sassou-Nguesso, as well as insurgent leader Bernard Kolélas
.
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
Lari
Lari (ethnic group)
The Lari is an ethnic group of the Republic of the Congo and the name of the language they speak. A subgroup of the Kongo people, the Laris live in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire and the Pool Region, where they constitute almost the entire population. There an estimated 1.2 million Laris living in Congo...
religious figure and politician, perhaps the most influential figure in Congolese politics before independence in 1960. However, he had more influence after his death than during his life.
In the late 1920s, Matsoua founded Amicale des Originaires de l'A.E.F., a self-improvement group, while living in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He attended events sponsored by the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
and helped develop black-based trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s. When he returned to Africa, he was repeatedly imprisoned by the colonial government and died in prison in 1942.
The Amicale then developed highly political and spiritual elements when its members adopted Matsoua as the messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
and became heavily involved in anti-French subversion.
After independence, Congolese politicians of many ideological shades attempted to capitalize on Matsoua's popularity, including Presidents Abbé Fulbert Youlou
Fulbert Youlou
Abbé Fulbert Youlou was a Brazzaville-Congolese Roman Catholic priest, nationalist leader and politician.-Early life:...
, Alphonse Massamba-Débat, and Denis Sassou-Nguesso, as well as insurgent leader Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Kolélas
Bernard Bakana Kolélas was a Congolese politician and President of the Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development...
.