Sophie Kanza

Sophie Kanza
Minister of Social Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In office 31 October 1966 – 6 December 1970
Personal details
Born	Sophie Madeline Kanza 8 February 1940 Léopoldville, Belgian Congo
Died	2 April 1999(1999-04-02) (aged 59) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Political party	Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution
Spouse	Marcel Lihau ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	6
Alma mater	University of Geneva Harvard University

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 first to hold a government office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, serving as Minister of Social Affairs from 31 October 1966 to 6 December 1970. In her later life she held positions within the United Nations.

Early life and education

Sophie Kanza was born on 8 February 1940 in Léopoldville, Belgian Congo, the sixth of seven children^[1][2] to Élisabeth Mansangaza and Daniel Kanza.^[3] She received much of her primary and secondary education in Brazzaville, French Congo.^[4] At the time of the Belgian Congo's independence in 1960, Kanza was the only woman in the country who had been enrolled in secondary education. She eventually graduated from Lycée du Sacré Cœur (Sacred Heart High School) in June 1961.^[5][a] In 1964, she became the first Congolese woman to graduate from a university^[6] when she received her diploma from the University of Geneva with a degree in sociology; she worked in the same department for the university as an assistant lecturer until 1966.^[1][4] Kanza studied at Harvard University from 1973 to 1976, earning a master's degree and a PhD in sociology.^[7]

Political career

On 31 October 1966, Kanza was appointed Minister of Social Affairs,^[8] becoming the first woman in the country to hold government office.^[9] Her appointment came while she was pursuing a PhD at the University of Geneva, but she ended her studies to assume office. She spent most of her initial time in office examining the ministry's struggles to meet the needs of the population. She also advocated for equal education opportunities for both boys and girls, and served as a delegate to the Organisation of African Unity summit in Kinshasa (formerly Léopoldville) in 1967.^[10] She was made a member of the political bureau of the Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution on 13 October 1967.^[8] She was dismissed as Minister of Social Affairs in a cabinet reshuffle on 6 December 1970.^[11] From 1973 until 1977, Kanza was a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She was Deputy Assistant Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) from 1981 to 1985, and Head of Mission to the Director-General of UNESCO from 1985 to 1988.^[2][7]

Personal life

Kanza married Marcel Lihau, future President of the Supreme Court of Justice, on 26 December 1964, and they had six daughters.^[2] However, he fled political persecution in the Congo and they spent most of their later lives separated.^[6]

In 1998, Kanza was involved in a car accident in Paris, and she became a paraplegic. After this, she left her job at UNESCO and traveled abroad to advocate for disabled people.^[12]

Death and legacy

Kanza suffered cardiac arrest^[1] and died on 2 April 1999. She was buried in the Luozi Territory.^[3]

In 2004, Kanza was inducted into the Congo's Pantheon of National History, one of the first women to be accorded the honour. Her bust is displayed in the Gallery of Memory.^[12] The "Cercle Sophie Kanza", an association of female professors in the Congo, was named in her honour.^[13] Three of Kanza's daughters organized a mass of thanksgiving in honor of herself and her husband in Gombe on 28 March 2015. Several important politicians attended the ceremony, including Léon Kengo and José Endundo Bononge.^[14]

Notes

1. The Lycée du Sacré Cœur was a boys school, but Kanza graduated from there because the girls school she attended in the Congo had closed following the departure of many Belgian educators from the country in 1960.^[4]

Citations

1. Auzias & Labourdette 2015, p. 139
2. Luka, Michel (27 March 2015). "Une messe de suffrages en mémoire de Marcel Lihau et Sophie N'Kanza". Le Phare (in French). Retrieved 9 December 2016.
3. "Samedi dernier au Sacré-Cœur de la Gombe: Pensée pieuse en mémoire de Marcel Lihau et Sophie Kanza" (in French). Groupe L'Avenir. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
4. Little 1973, p. 208.
5. Coquery-Vidrovitch 1997, p. 143
6. Fox 2011, p. 173.
7. Nduka, Abadengo (11 April 2011). "L'Observateur - 1ère universitaire congolaise et 1ère femme ministre : Mme Sophie Lihau Kanza remémorée". Congo Forum (in French). Retrieved 9 December 2016.
8. Lang 2010, p. 383.
9. LaFontaine 1986, p. 222
10. Little 1973, pp. 208–209.
11. "Political Appointments: Government Changes CONGO (DR)". Africa Research Bulletin. 1970. p. 1952.
12. Kambale, Juakali (15 July 2004). "Pantheon of National History Expands to Include Women". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
13. "Sortie officielle de l'Association des Femmes Professeurs d'Université". Le Phare (in French). 30 April 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
14. Enyimo, Martin (31 March 2015). "Hommage: une messe d'action de grâces en mémoire de Marcel Lihau et Sophie N'Kanza" (in French). Agence d'information d'afrique centrale. Retrieved 12 February 2017.

References

• Auzias, Dominique; Labourdette, Jean-Paul (2015). Congo RDC 2015 (avec cartes, photos + avis des lecteurs) (in French). Petit Futé. ISBN 9782746987203.
• Coquery-Vidrovitch, Catherine (1997). African Women: A Modern History (illustrated ed.). WestviewPress. ISBN 9780813323602.
• Fox, Renee C. (2011). In the Field: A Sociologist's Journey. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 9781412843201.
• LaFontaine, J.S. (1986). City Politics: A Study of Léopoldville 1962–63. American Studies. Cambridge University Press Archive.
• Lang, Peter, ed. (2010). Documents diplomatiques Français: 1968-Tome II (1er juillet-31 Décembre) (in French). Vol. 2. Ministere Des Affaires Etrangeres. ISBN 9789052015576.
• Little, Kenneth (1973). African Women in Towns: An Aspect of Africa's Social Revolution (reprint ed.). CUP Archive. ISBN 9780521098199.

• "FILM Sophie N'kanza: Parcours d'une Pionnière". Studio PML Productions. 2021 – via YouTube.