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Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga

Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga (1913 – 2002), generally known as Papa Kasongo, was an Educator, Historian, Politician and Businessman. He wrote two history books about the Congo (Histoire Du Zaire[1][2][3]). He served a term as the mayor (bourgmestre) of the city of Gombe.[4][5] He founded pre-schools, kindergarten, elementary, and high schools in Kinshasa.[4]

Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga
Portrait of Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga
BornIn 1913.
Luebo, Kasai Occidental, Democratic Republic of Congo.
DiedMarch 6, 2002.
Ngaliema, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Occupation(s)Educator, Businessman, Politician, Historian.
Known forFounder of Les Ecoles Des Flamboyants (schools) in Kinshasa 1966.
Notable workHISTOIRE DU ZAIRE, (Part I 1975; Part II 1981)
Title
    • Mayor of the City of Gombe, Kinshasa
    • Chief Inspector of Education
SpouseMaman Kasongo Elisabeth
ChildrenMukendi Kasongo, Albert-Leon Kasongo, Ignace Kasongo, Scola Kasongo, Adele Wakanda Kasongo, Anitou Kasongo Kape, Papito Kasongo, Olivier Kasongo
HonoursCommandeur de l' Ordre National du Léopard

Early life

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Albert-Joseph Kasongo was born in Luebo, in the province of Kasai (Kasai Occidental) in 1913. He was raised at an early age by Catholic sisters. He then continued his education in the Kongo Central (Bas-Congo) at the Colonie Scolaire run by a Catholic congregation,[6] the De La Salle Brothers, or the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Latin: Fratres Scholarum Christianarum; French: Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes).[7] After completing the Noviciat, he attended Le Petit Seminaire, then Le Grand Seminaire, and became an educator. He later left the congregation to live in Boma (Kongo Central) where he worked and owned a house for several years. Later, he moved to Leopoldville (Kinshasa[8][9]) in Kalina, where he worked at the Department of Education.[10] From 1961 to 1976, he was the chief inspector of education[11] in Leopoldville (Kinshasa[8]).

Career

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Mayor Kasongo at Gombe city hall, 1982

Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga first worked as a teacher in Kongo Central. As a young adult, he continued his impeccable career in the education field. After receiving a scholarship to pursue higher education at the University in Geneva, Switzerland,[12] he returned to his native country and was promoted to chief inspector of Elementary education[11] for Leopoldville (Kinshasa[8]). In 1966, he founded Les Ecoles Des Flamboyants, one of the first private schools in the country in Kalina (Gombe).[13] He also became a member of the municipal city council of Gombe in Kinshasa[8] for several years. From 1982 to 1988, he was elected and ran successfully for office as the 4th mayor of the City of Gombe, downtown Kinshasa.[8][14][15] Gombe is the major city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the presidency of the Republic[16] at the Palais de la Nation, the Central Bank, and numerous national government offices, media agencies, and diplomatic embassies are located. It also hosts major financial institutions, business centers, and the best hotels and hospitals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Additionally, it's important to note that Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga received one of the highest commendations from the president of the Republic,[16] Commander[17][18] of the National Order of the Leopard,[19] for his endless work in education and creating jobs in the community.

Legacy

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Albert-Joseph Kasongo Wa Kapinga wrote two history books "Histoire Du Zaire[20]" which was written in two parts, about the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two books are used in schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as for reference materials in high schools and universities worldwide. As a teacher, he taught notable figures such as Joseph Diangienda,[21] son of Simon Kimbangu, founder and spiritual leader of the Kimbangiust Church.[22][23]

He was one of the founding members and a one-term president of ASBL, La Fraternité,[24][25] a non-profit organization that oversaw several schools of the De La Salle Brothers in Kinshasa[8] and other provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was a member of ASSANEF[26][27] (Association des Anciens Élèves de Frère). He was also a member of the Bana Boma Association for residents of Boma.

Works

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  • HISTOIRE DU ZAIRE, Histoire 5eme primaire (1975; Editions RENAPI)[1][2]
  • HISTOIRE DU ZAIRE, Histoire 6eme primaire (1981; Editions Treviglio, Italie)[20][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kapinga, Kasongo wa (1975). "Histoire du Zaïre: 5e primaire".
  2. ^ a b Kapinga, Kasongo wa (1975). Histoire du Zaïre: 5e primaire (in French). Edition Samafos.
  3. ^ a b Kapinga, Kasongo wa (1982). Histoire du Zaire (in French).
  4. ^ a b Luya, Michel (19 March 2002) [19 March 2002]. Luya, Michel (ed.). "Papa Kasongo Wa Kapinga s' en est alle!". Le Palmarès (Newspaper). No. 2384. Limete, Kinshasa, DR Congo: Le Palmarès. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Gombe (Kinshasa)", Wikipédia (in French), 2024-07-13, retrieved 2024-07-13
  6. ^ Nzita, Mukawa (15 September 1979). "Les colonies scolaires catholique du Zaire". Journal Salongo (Newspaper) (in French). Kinshasa, République Du Zaire: Salongo. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Christian Brother | Religious Order, Education, Schools, Charities, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Kinshasa | Map, Population, Region, & Facts | Britannica".
  9. ^ "Kinshasa | Map, Population, Region, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  10. ^ "Ministère de l'EDU-NC - MINEDU-NC | Site Officiel". MINEDU-NC.
  11. ^ a b "Inspection Générale".
  12. ^ Mutombo, Kalonji (25 April 1981). "Les anciens etudiants Zairois de Geneve". Magazine Zaire (Magazine) (in French). Kinshasa, Republique du Zaire: Magazine Zaire. p. 6.
  13. ^ Madimba, Tambwe (8 February 1987). "Kasongo wa Kapinga, fondateur des écoles des flamboyants". Magazine Elima (Magazine) (in French). Vol. 254. Kintambo, Kinshasa, République Du Zaire. p. 7.
  14. ^ "Catherine Nzuzi wa Mbombo", Wikipédia (in French), 2024-07-13, retrieved 2024-07-13
  15. ^ "Marie-Rose Kasa-Vubu Kiatazabu", Wikipédia (in French), 2024-07-13, retrieved 2024-07-13
  16. ^ a b "Présidence de la RDC". Présidence de la RDC.
  17. ^ "Ordres Nationaux - Chancelleriedesordresnationaux". 17 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Ordres Nationaux - Chancelleriedesordresnationaux" (in French). 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  19. ^ "Accueil - Chancelleriedesordresnationaux". March 28, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Kapinga, Kasongo wa (1982). "Histoire du Zaire".
  21. ^ Kabarole, Etienne, Byaruhanga (1918–1992). "Diangienda, Joseph". Dictionary of African Christian Biography (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "Simon Kimbangu | Congolese, Prophet, Healer | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  23. ^ Yossa, Way (1887–1951). "Kimbangu, Simon (C)". Dictionary of African Christian Biography (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  24. ^ "La modernisation des infracteurs scolaires de l'Asbl « la Fraternité », une des priorités de son nouveau président". ACP (in French). 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  25. ^ "Une association des anciens élèves appelle ses membres à vaincre les antivaleurs". ACP (in French). 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  26. ^ Diosso, Olivier (12 August 2010). "Congo-Kinshasa: Enseignement primaire, secondaire et professionnel". Le Potentiel. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  27. ^ Kongo, Véron-Clément (20 May 2008). "Congo-Kinshasa: Centenaire des Frères des écoles chrétiennes - les lassaliens appelés à s'investir". Le Potentiel. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
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