Victor Biaka Boda (February 25, 1913 – January 28, 1950) was an Ivorian politician. Originally a

shaman Shamanism is a spiritual practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into ...

, he adopted the name Victor and ventured into politics as a member of the

Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire - African Democratic Rally Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

, and in 1948 was elected to the

French Senate The Senate (, ) is the upper house of the French Parliament, with the lower house being the National Assembly (France), National Assembly, the two houses constituting the legislature of France. It is made up of 348 senators (''sénateurs'' and ...

. He is best known for the unusual circumstances of his death. His death took place at the end of a year of severe repression of his political party in the colony. In January 1950, while touring

Bouaflé Bouaflé is a city in central Ivory Coast. It is a sub-prefecture of and the seat of Bouaflé Department. It is also the seat of Marahoué Region in Sassandra-Marahoué District Sassandra-Marahoué District (, ) is one of fourteen administrati ...

, his car broke down. As his chauffeur repaired it, he walked off into the jungle, never to return. His charred bones were recovered the following November. ''Time'' magazine reported in July 1951 that the most popular belief among French politicians was that "the Senator had been eaten by his constituents.""FRANCE: Tabled?"
''

Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

'', 1951-07-16. ''Stade Victor Biaka Boda'', a stadium in

Gagnoa Gagnoa is a city in south-central Ivory Coast. It is the seat of both Gôh-Djiboua District and Gôh Region. It is also the seat of and a sub-prefecture of Gagnoa Department. Gagnoa is also a commune. In the 2014 census, the city had a populat ...

, and ''École Biaka Boda'', an elementary school in Bouaflé, are named in his honor.

Notes

References

* Devalois Biaka, ''La "disparition" du patriote ivoirien Victor Biaka Boda: Plaidoyer pour libérer sa dépouille mortelle'', ''Editions L'Harmattan'', Paris, 1997

External links

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Notre Voie article
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1913 births 1950 deaths Assassinated Ivorian politicians Cannibalised people French senators of the Fourth Republic Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire – African Democratic Rally politicians Shamans People murdered in Ivory Coast Senators of French West Africa Politicians assassinated in the 1950s {{Coted'Ivoire-politician-stub