Daniel Kanza Kinsona (1909–1990) was a Congolese politician and a leading member of the '' Alliance des Bakongo''. He served as Premier Burgomaster of the capital of the Congo, Léopoldville, from 1960 until 1962. He later served in the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the r ...

Biography

Daniel Kanza was born in 1909 in the Manianga area of the Luozi Territory. He received a Protestant Christian education before enlisting in the

Force Publique The ''Force Publique'' (, "Public Force"; nl, Openbare Weermacht) was a gendarmerie and military force in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1885 (when the territory was known as the Congo Free State), through the period of ...

, being stationed all over the Congo. He reached the rank of sergeant. After his service he became a Protestant

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Chur ...

. Between 1929 and 1940 Kanza had seven children with Élisabeth Mansangaza, including future sociologist and politician

Sophie Kanza Sophie Lihau-Kanza or Zala Lusibu N'Kanza (8 February 1940 – 2 April 1999) was a Congolese politician and sociologist. She was the first woman of her country to receive a secondary education, the first to graduate from a university, and the firs ...

and future politician and diplomat Thomas Kanza. He worked as a functionary in the colonial administration. In 1957 he became vice president of the '' Alliance des Bakongo'' (ABAKO) party. He was arrested after the

Léopoldville riots The Léopoldville riots were an outbreak of civil disorder in Léopoldville (modern-day Kinshasa) in the Belgian Congo which took place in January 1959 and which were an important moment for the Congolese independence movement. The rioting occurr ...

of 4 January 1959. Kanza attended the Belgo-Congolese Round Table Conference in Brussels on behalf of ABAKO in January 1960, and was chosen to be a vice president of the talks. He heavily criticized party president

Joseph Kasa-Vubu Joseph Kasa-Vubu, alternatively Joseph Kasavubu, ( – 24 March 1969) was a Congolese politician who served as the first President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo) from 1960 until 1965. A member of the Kon ...

for his attitude during the conference and his failure to consult other party members. Kasa-Vubu also pushed for a

federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of de ...

government, which Kanza strongly opposed in favor of a unitary system. He and two of his sons published a series of articles in a Congolese newspaper they ran that accused Kasa-Vubu of collaborating with France to divide the Congo. After Kasa-Vubu walked out of the conference, Kanza attempted to assume leadership over the party but most members remained loyal to Kasa-Vubu. During the conference questions were raised over whether Belgium should retain any powers or official responsibilities in the Congo after 30 June. Kanza was appointed to a committee formed to address the problem, and ultimately it was decided that the Congolese state should assume all responsibilities of governance. Kanza was expelled from ABAKO on 1 February. On 4 March, he announced the formation of a dissident wing of the party, which became known as ABAKO-Kanza. This later transformed into the ''Alliance des Congolais'' (ALCO). Most of Kanza's support came from the Manianga area of the Luozi Territory. The Manianga Council, a regional association, unsuccessfully attempted to reconcile him and Kasa-Vubu. In October he was elected Premier Burgomaster of Léopoldville. The following year he dismissed all European members of the city council. Kanza left office in June 1962 when ABAKO had him removed and replaced by a candidate they preferred. In January 1965 a group of Maniangans nominated him as candidate for national senator in anticipation of upcoming elections. However, the Lower Congo provincial governor demanded personal loyalty from all local candidates. Kanza refused to pledge such, and as a result was not included on the ballot for ABAKO. Yet by 1972 he was serving in the

. He died in 1990.

Citations

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kanza, Daniel Belgian Congo people Soldiers of the Force Publique Évolués People from Kongo Central 1909 births 1990 deaths Members of the National Assembly (Democratic Republic of the Congo)