Editing Jean-Bédel Bokassa (section)

==Early life==
Bokassa was born on 22 February 1921, as one of twelve children to Mindogon Mufasa, a village chief, and his wife Marie Yokowo in [[Bobangui]], a large [[Mbaka people|Mbaka]] village in the [[Lobaye]] basin located at the edge of the equatorial forest, then a part of colonial [[French Equatorial Africa]], some {{convert|80|km|mi}} southwest of [[Bangui]].{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=7}} Mindogon was forced to organise the rosters of his village people to work for the French Forestière company. After hearing about the efforts of a prophet named Karnu to resist French rule and forced labour,{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=6}} Mindogon decided that he would no longer follow French orders and released some of his fellow villagers who were being held hostage by the Forestière. The company considered this to be a rebellious act, so they detained Mindogon and took him away bound in chains to [[Mbaïki]].{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=7}} On 13 November 1927, he was beaten to death in the town square just outside the prefecture office. A week later Bokassa's mother, unable to bear the grief of losing her husband, committed [[suicide]].{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=7}}<ref name="AppiahGatesp278">{{Harvnb|Appiah|Gates|1999|p=278}}.</ref> This left Bokassa an orphan at age 6.

Bokassa's extended family decided that it would be best if he received a French-language education at the ''École Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc'', a Christian [[mission (Christian)|mission]] school in Mbaïki.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=8}} As a child, he was frequently taunted by his classmates about his orphanhood. He was short in stature and physically strong. In his studies, Bokassa became especially fond of a French grammar book by an author named Jean Bédel. His teachers noticed his attachment, and started calling him "Jean-Bédel."{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=8}}

During his teenage years, Bokassa studied at ''École Saint-Louis'' in Bangui, under Father Grüner. Grüner educated him with the intention of making him a priest, but realized that his student did not have the aptitude for study or the piety required for this occupation. He then studied at Father Compte's school in [[Brazzaville]], where he developed his abilities as a cook. After graduating in 1939, Bokassa took the advice offered to him by his grandfather, M'Balanga, and Father Grüner, by joining the ''[[Troupes coloniales]]'' (French colonial troops) as a ''[[tirailleur]]'' on 19 May 1939.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=8}}