Paul Panda Farnana (from his full name Paul Panda Farnana M'fumu, born in 1888 in Nzemba, near Banana, died in this same locality on 12 May1930) is an agronomist and a nationalist Congolese.
The name of Paul Panda Farnana marked the history of Dem. Rep. of Congo for many reasons: he was the first Congolese to have completed higher education in Belgium. He was above all the first Congolese nationalist to denounce with virulence the colonial methods put in place by the Belgians. He called for, for example, the generalization of secular education as well as access for the Congolese to universities in the Metropolis. He also pleaded for the participation of his compatriots in the decision-making bodies of the colony as well as for the Africanization of the executives.
He was also an active activist Pan-Africanism and collaborated with Paul Otlet (one of the fathers of the internet), Henri La Fontaine (Otlet's collaborator and Nobel Peace Prize in 1913) WEB DuBois, and Blaise Diagne to the organization of the Second Pan-African Congress, at the Palais Mondial, in Brussels in September 1921. He was imbued with the internationalist and pacifist ideals which were those of Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine.
Are you interested in this article and want to read it in full?
Access all Premium content. Over 2000 articles and ebooks