The first baptized Catholic and first preacher in Burkina Faso, Alfred Simon Diban Ki-Zerbo was born in 1875, in Da, near Tougan. Converting to Catholicism on May 6, 1901, Alfred married Louise Coulibaly in May 1904. Learning to read and write, he began teaching catechism to his fellow countrymen.
He assisted Msgr. Bazin in the foundation of a new mission in Ouagadougou, and personally helped for the construction and a church and convent. He furthermore assisted deeply in the foundation of other missions, including that of Gourounsi.
Following the death if his wife, Alfred married Folo Ki in 1914, who would later be received in the Catholic Church thanks to the catechism he taught her. She received the name Thérèse on her baptism.
In 1975, Alfred Diban, at 100 years of age, went to Rome for the Holy Year, and was received in audience by Pope Paul VI, following the initiative of the late Cardinals Zoungrana and Gantin, on May 5. The Pope conferred to Alfred the knighthood of the Order of St. Sylvester and offered him his throne to sit, noticing his early age and his fatigue following his long trip to Rome. En route back to Burkina Faso, he visited Lourdes and Paris. As he arrived at Ouagadougou's airport, hundreds of people went to greet him.
On May 10, 1980, when Pope John Paul II visited Ouagadougou, learning that Alfred was too ill and recovered in hospital, thus unable to participate in his Mass, he sent Cardinal Bernardin Gantin to greet him in his name. Alfred heard the Mass Celebration through a radio system, and as soon as the Pope gave his final blessing, he passed away peacefully at the most venerable age of 105. His funeral saw the participation of thousands from all over Burkina Faso. His remains were interred beside his former residence at Toma, in the presence of Msgrs. Zéphirin Toë and Mori Julien Sidibé, and Cardinal Paul Zoungrana M.Afr.
In 1901 Alfred Diban became the first Catholic in Burkina Faso. By the time of his death nearly 80 years later, over 500,000 fellow countrymen were received in the Catholic Church.
He assisted Msgr. Bazin in the foundation of a new mission in Ouagadougou, and personally helped for the construction and a church and convent. He furthermore assisted deeply in the foundation of other missions, including that of Gourounsi.
Following the death if his wife, Alfred married Folo Ki in 1914, who would later be received in the Catholic Church thanks to the catechism he taught her. She received the name Thérèse on her baptism.
In 1975, Alfred Diban, at 100 years of age, went to Rome for the Holy Year, and was received in audience by Pope Paul VI, following the initiative of the late Cardinals Zoungrana and Gantin, on May 5. The Pope conferred to Alfred the knighthood of the Order of St. Sylvester and offered him his throne to sit, noticing his early age and his fatigue following his long trip to Rome. En route back to Burkina Faso, he visited Lourdes and Paris. As he arrived at Ouagadougou's airport, hundreds of people went to greet him.
On May 10, 1980, when Pope John Paul II visited Ouagadougou, learning that Alfred was too ill and recovered in hospital, thus unable to participate in his Mass, he sent Cardinal Bernardin Gantin to greet him in his name. Alfred heard the Mass Celebration through a radio system, and as soon as the Pope gave his final blessing, he passed away peacefully at the most venerable age of 105. His funeral saw the participation of thousands from all over Burkina Faso. His remains were interred beside his former residence at Toma, in the presence of Msgrs. Zéphirin Toë and Mori Julien Sidibé, and Cardinal Paul Zoungrana M.Afr.
In 1901 Alfred Diban became the first Catholic in Burkina Faso. By the time of his death nearly 80 years later, over 500,000 fellow countrymen were received in the Catholic Church.
The first baptized Catholic and first preacher in Burkina Faso, Alfred Simon Diban Ki-Zerbo was born in 1875, in Da, near Tougan. Converting to Catholicism on May 6, 1901, Alfred married Louise Coulibaly in May 1904. Learning to read and write, he began teaching catechism to his fellow countrymen.
He assisted Msgr. Bazin in the foundation of a new mission in Ouagadougou, and personally helped for the construction and a church and convent. He furthermore assisted deeply in the foundation of other missions, including that of Gourounsi.
Following the death if his wife, Alfred married Folo Ki in 1914, who would later be received in the Catholic Church thanks to the catechism he taught her. She received the name Thérèse on her baptism.
In 1975, Alfred Diban, at 100 years of age, went to Rome for the Holy Year, and was received in audience by Pope Paul VI, following the initiative of the late Cardinals Zoungrana and Gantin, on May 5. The Pope conferred to Alfred the knighthood of the Order of St. Sylvester and offered him his throne to sit, noticing his early age and his fatigue following his long trip to Rome. En route back to Burkina Faso, he visited Lourdes and Paris. As he arrived at Ouagadougou's airport, hundreds of people went to greet him.
On May 10, 1980, when Pope John Paul II visited Ouagadougou, learning that Alfred was too ill and recovered in hospital, thus unable to participate in his Mass, he sent Cardinal Bernardin Gantin to greet him in his name. Alfred heard the Mass Celebration through a radio system, and as soon as the Pope gave his final blessing, he passed away peacefully at the most venerable age of 105. His funeral saw the participation of thousands from all over Burkina Faso. His remains were interred beside his former residence at Toma, in the presence of Msgrs. Zéphirin Toë and Mori Julien Sidibé, and Cardinal Paul Zoungrana M.Afr.
In 1901 Alfred Diban became the first Catholic in Burkina Faso. By the time of his death nearly 80 years later, over 500,000 fellow countrymen were received in the Catholic Church.
He assisted Msgr. Bazin in the foundation of a new mission in Ouagadougou, and personally helped for the construction and a church and convent. He furthermore assisted deeply in the foundation of other missions, including that of Gourounsi.
Following the death if his wife, Alfred married Folo Ki in 1914, who would later be received in the Catholic Church thanks to the catechism he taught her. She received the name Thérèse on her baptism.
In 1975, Alfred Diban, at 100 years of age, went to Rome for the Holy Year, and was received in audience by Pope Paul VI, following the initiative of the late Cardinals Zoungrana and Gantin, on May 5. The Pope conferred to Alfred the knighthood of the Order of St. Sylvester and offered him his throne to sit, noticing his early age and his fatigue following his long trip to Rome. En route back to Burkina Faso, he visited Lourdes and Paris. As he arrived at Ouagadougou's airport, hundreds of people went to greet him.
On May 10, 1980, when Pope John Paul II visited Ouagadougou, learning that Alfred was too ill and recovered in hospital, thus unable to participate in his Mass, he sent Cardinal Bernardin Gantin to greet him in his name. Alfred heard the Mass Celebration through a radio system, and as soon as the Pope gave his final blessing, he passed away peacefully at the most venerable age of 105. His funeral saw the participation of thousands from all over Burkina Faso. His remains were interred beside his former residence at Toma, in the presence of Msgrs. Zéphirin Toë and Mori Julien Sidibé, and Cardinal Paul Zoungrana M.Afr.
In 1901 Alfred Diban became the first Catholic in Burkina Faso. By the time of his death nearly 80 years later, over 500,000 fellow countrymen were received in the Catholic Church.
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