Prosper Philippe Augouard | |
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| Born | 17 September 1852 Poitiers, France |
| Died | 3 October 1921 (aged 69) Paris, France |
| Other names | "Cannibal Bishop", Diata-Diata ("quick-quick") |
| Occupation(s) | French missionary priest, bishop |
| Known for | Explorer of Africa |
Prosper Philippe Augouard , C.S.Sp. (17 September 1852 – 3 October 1921) was a French Catholic priest, missionary, and explorer of Africa.
Augouard was born 17 September 1852 in Poitiers, France. His father was Francis, a carpenter. His mother was Jeanne Adèle, maiden name Barreau.[1]
Augouard was educated at Montmorillon to become a French priest. When Augouard was at Rennes he was a volunteer in the Siege of Paris of 1870–71. During this time he met Bishop Louis Gaston Adrien de Ségur and learned the philosophy of being a Christian bishop.[2] Augouard heard the story told by Antoine Horner of his missions in Zanzibar and East Africa,[2] which motivated him to join the organization known as the Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.).[2] He then traveled to Africa in December 1877 as secretary to Bishop Le Berre, Vicar Apostolic of Gabon.[2] In 1879, at age 27, Augouard went on an exploring expedition for about a month to the interior of central Africa. He arrived at Lake Nkunda (aka Malebo Pool) five days after the renowned Welsh journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley arrived there.[3]
Augouard is known for exploring the Congo and Ubangi Rivers, for which he was awarded a prize from the Paris Geographical Society.[4] Augouard settled in Brazzaville in 1887. In 1890 he was appointed Bishop of Brazzaville and vicar apostolic of the Upper Congo and Oubangui.[5] In the process of exploration he developed Christian mission stations along some 1,300 miles (2,100 km) of the Congo River.[3] Because of his rapid expansion of missions he was nicknamed Diata-Diata, meaning 'quick-quick'.[3] He was also given the nickname Cannibal Bishop, because many of his Christian followers were former cannibals.[3]
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See also: Human cannibalism § Central Africa, and Child cannibalism § Consumption of slave children |
Augouard returned to Paris for health reasons around 1920. He died 3 October 1921 at the Mother House.[3]
