Léon A. Hofkens (13 October 1894 – 9 January 1972) was a Belgian colonial administrator. He was governor of Lusambo / Kasaï in the Belgian Congo from 1945 to 1948.
9 January 1972(1972-01-09) (aged 77) Taintignies, Rumes, Hainaut, Belgium
Occupation
Teacher, colonial administrator
Lifeedit
Léon Hofkens was born in Brussels, Belgium, on 13 October 1894. He obtained a normal school diploma, and worked for six years as a teacher in Brussels. In July 1920 he joined the territorial service in the Belgian Congo.[1] Hofkens' first assignment was as a territorial agent in the territory of Lodja, Sankuru District. During his second term he was territorial administrator of Lusambo, then of Dimbelenge, a new territory that he was responsible for organizing. In 1927 he was made deputy district commissioner of Sankuru. From 1931 to 1933 he was deputy district commissioner of Bas-Congo District, then from 1934 to 1941 titular district commissioner of Bas-Congo.[1]
At the start of World War II (1939-1945), in the second half of 1939 the administration was concerned about the politico-religious Mission des Noirs (Mission of the Blacks) movement, associated with Kimbanguism and the Salvation Army.[2] On 5 December 1939 Marcel Maquet wrote to governor general Pierre Ryckmans opposing measures of clemency to Kimbanguists who renounced that movement, then returned to it.[3] On 10 December 1939 Hofkens gave secret instructions to administrators in Bas-Congo in which he confirmed that he thoughr the Mission des Noirs was xenophic and subversive, but proposed that the natives who followed the movement should not be seen as vulgar delinquents, but as being engaged in a dangerous adventure. Persuasion was the way to bring them to their senses, rather than repression. He proposed that repeat offenders be subject to relatively small fines or penal servitude, proportional to the offense, and the leader of a village or organizer of a meeting should be punished rather than all the people.[4]
Hofkens' 7th term started in 1941, when he was appointed provincial commissioner of Sankuru, holding office until 1943.[1] In 1945 the districts of Kasai (capital at Luebo), Sankuru (capital at Lusambo) and Lomami (capital at Kabinda) were reorganized in the Kasaï Province, with its capital at Luluabourg.[1] Hofkens was appointed governor of Lusambo Province on 21 September 1945. He replaced René P. Preys. In 1947 the name of the province was changed to Kasaï Province. Hofkens held office until 19 July 1948. He was replaced by Firmin Peigneux.[5]
Hofkens was made a member of the Royal Order of the Lion on 8 April 1947. On 20 August 1949 Leon-A.-F. Hofkens, honorary provincial governor, was promoted to the rank of commander of the order.[6] Hofkens died in Taintignies, Hainaut, Belgium, on 9 January 1972.[1]
Gille, A. (20 November 1972), "HOFKENS (Léon)", Biographie Belge d'Outre-Mer (in French), vol. VII–B, Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer, pp. col. 192-195, retrieved 2020-08-16
Zana Etambala, Mathieu (2005), "L'Armee du Salut et la Naissance de la 'mission Des Noirs' au Congo Belge, 1934 – 1940", Annales Aequatoria (in French), Honoré Vinck, 26: 67–164, JSTOR 25836854
December 15, 2023
léon, hofkens, october, 1894, january, 1972, belgian, colonial, administrator, governor, lusambo, kasaï, belgian, congo, from, 1945, 1948, governor, lusambo, kasaïin, office, september, 1945, july, 1948preceded, byrené, preyssucceeded, byfirmin, peigneuxperson. Leon A Hofkens 13 October 1894 9 January 1972 was a Belgian colonial administrator He was governor of Lusambo Kasai in the Belgian Congo from 1945 to 1948 Leon A HofkensGovernor of Lusambo KasaiIn office 21 September 1945 19 July 1948Preceded byRene P PreysSucceeded byFirmin PeigneuxPersonal detailsBorn 1894 10 13 13 October 1894Brussels BelgiumDied9 January 1972 1972 01 09 aged 77 Taintignies Rumes Hainaut BelgiumOccupationTeacher colonial administratorLife editLeon Hofkens was born in Brussels Belgium on 13 October 1894 He obtained a normal school diploma and worked for six years as a teacher in Brussels In July 1920 he joined the territorial service in the Belgian Congo 1 Hofkens first assignment was as a territorial agent in the territory of Lodja Sankuru District During his second term he was territorial administrator of Lusambo then of Dimbelenge a new territory that he was responsible for organizing In 1927 he was made deputy district commissioner of Sankuru From 1931 to 1933 he was deputy district commissioner of Bas Congo District then from 1934 to 1941 titular district commissioner of Bas Congo 1 At the start of World War II 1939 1945 in the second half of 1939 the administration was concerned about the politico religious Mission des Noirs Mission of the Blacks movement associated with Kimbanguism and the Salvation Army 2 On 5 December 1939 Marcel Maquet wrote to governor general Pierre Ryckmans opposing measures of clemency to Kimbanguists who renounced that movement then returned to it 3 On 10 December 1939 Hofkens gave secret instructions to administrators in Bas Congo in which he confirmed that he thoughr the Mission des Noirs was xenophic and subversive but proposed that the natives who followed the movement should not be seen as vulgar delinquents but as being engaged in a dangerous adventure Persuasion was the way to bring them to their senses rather than repression He proposed that repeat offenders be subject to relatively small fines or penal servitude proportional to the offense and the leader of a village or organizer of a meeting should be punished rather than all the people 4 Hofkens 7th term started in 1941 when he was appointed provincial commissioner of Sankuru holding office until 1943 1 In 1945 the districts of Kasai capital at Luebo Sankuru capital at Lusambo and Lomami capital at Kabinda were reorganized in the Kasai Province with its capital at Luluabourg 1 Hofkens was appointed governor of Lusambo Province on 21 September 1945 He replaced Rene P Preys In 1947 the name of the province was changed to Kasai Province Hofkens held office until 19 July 1948 He was replaced by Firmin Peigneux 5 Hofkens was made a member of the Royal Order of the Lion on 8 April 1947 On 20 August 1949 Leon A F Hofkens honorary provincial governor was promoted to the rank of commander of the order 6 Hofkens died in Taintignies Hainaut Belgium on 9 January 1972 1 Notes edit a b c d e Gille 1972 Zana Etambala 2005 p 127 Zana Etambala 2005 p 128 Zana Etambala 2005 p 129 Congo Kinshasa Provinces Belgium 1949 p 10699 Sources editBelgium 1949 Belgisch staatsblad retrieved 16 August 2020 Congo Kinshasa Provinces Rulers org retrieved 2020 08 05 Gille A 20 November 1972 HOFKENS Leon Biographie Belge d Outre Mer in French vol VII B Academie Royale des Sciences d Outre Mer pp col 192 195 retrieved 2020 08 16 Zana Etambala Mathieu 2005 L Armee du Salut et la Naissance de la mission Des Noirs au Congo Belge 1934 1940 Annales Aequatoria in French Honore Vinck 26 67 164 JSTOR 25836854 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leon A Hofkens amp oldid 1160798166, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
