Dark Age: The Political Odyssey of Emperor BokassaThis work recounts the turbulent political career of Jean-Bedel Bokassa, the flamboyant president-for-life and later emperor of the Central African Republic/Empire. Brian Titley examines the myths and legends surrounding the man, probes their origins and veracity, and attempts to provide a more balanced perspective on this controversial and misunderstood figure. |
Contents
1 Colonial Interlude | 3 |
2 Coup détat | 19 |
3 Papa Bok | 33 |
4 Extended Family | 51 |
5 The French Connection | 65 |
6 La folie des grandeurs | 82 |
7 Oui Majesté impériale | 99 |
8 Autumn of the Patriarch | 105 |
11 The New Republic | 152 |
12 La vérité et lhonneur | 166 |
13 Accounting for His Stewardship | 181 |
Epilogue | 204 |
Conclusion | 208 |
Notes | 219 |
A Note on Sources | 239 |
| 243 | |
Common terms and phrases
Abel Goumba Abidjan airport April army arrested arrived Bakouma Bangui Banza Barracuda became began Berengo Birao Boganda Bokassa Ier Bouar Camp de Roux Canard cannibalism Caravelle Catherine centrafricaine Centrafrique Central African Empire Central African Republic CFA francs château claimed colonial coronation coup court David Dacko death December defence diamonds documents Elysée empire Equatorial February forces former emperor France's François French Gabon Gadhaffi Gaulle Georges Bokassa Giscard d'Estaing Goumba guards Hardricourt Houphouët-Boigny imperial Interview Jacques January Jean-Bedel Jean-Bedel Bokassa Jeune Afrique journalists Journiac Kolingba later lawyers leaders Libyan Lobaye M'Baka March Mbodou Meanwhile ment MESAN military Mitterrand never Ngaragba November Obrou October official Oubangui River Oubangui-Chari Palais Paris Péan political president presidential prison radio regime return to Bangui Roger Delpey role ruler Saint-Sylvestre SDECE September soldiers Szpiner Tapie Tchad tion took trial vérité villa wanted Zaïre