What is Canaan Banana birthday?

Canaan Banana was born at 1936-03-05

When was Canaan Banana died?

Canaan Banana was died at 2003-11-10

Where was Canaan Banana died?

Canaan Banana was died in London

Which age was Canaan Banana died?

Canaan Banana was died at age 67

Where is Canaan Banana's birth place?

Canaan Banana was born in Esigodini

What is Canaan Banana nationalities?

Canaan Banana's nationalities is Zimbabwean

Who is Canaan Banana spouses?

Canaan Banana's spouses is Janet Banana

Which company or organization was founded by Canaan Banana?

Canaan Banana was the founder/co-founder of United African National Council

What is Canaan Banana's political ideology?

Canaan Banana's political ideology is Political party - ZANU

What is Canaan Banana's religion?

Canaan Banana's religion is Methodism

How famous is Canaan Banana?

Canaan Banana is famouse as Former President of Zimbabwe

Canaan Banana - Former President of Zimbabwe, Birthday and Family

Home › Zimbabwean › Canaan BananaMarch 5, 1936484 views

Canaan Banana Biography Stories Embed this Biography stories

Table of contents

Personal Details
Photo
Overview
Timeline
FAQ

Gays Zimbabwean Leaders Political Leaders Presidents Pisces Celebrities

Canaan Banana's Personal Details

Canaan Banana was the first black President of Zimbabwe

Information	Detail
Birthday	March 5, 1936
Died on	November 10, 2003
Nationality	Zimbabwean
Famous	Gays, Leaders, Political Leaders, Presidents, Former President of Zimbabwe
Spouses	Janet Banana
Founder / Co-Founder	United African National Council
Birth Place	Esigodini
Political Ideology	Political party - ZANU
Religion	Methodism
Gender	Male
Sun Sign	Pisces
Born in	Esigodini
Famous as	Former President of Zimbabwe
Died at Age	67

Who is Canaan Banana?

Canaan Banana was an eminent political leader of Zimbabwe who went on to become the country’s first black President, after the much-prolonged war of independence. A radical theologian and a Methodist minister, Banana’s early political career enjoyed an honourable status. He played an influential role in the transnational black liberation movement which toppled the white-only Smith regime and subsequently racism in the country. Despite holding ceremonial position (as real power vested with Prime Minister Robert Mugabe), Banana was instrumental in ending ethnic violence in Matebeleland by amalgamating two political parties ZANU and ZAPU. However, his remarkable reputation as a politician witnessed a major downfall when he was convicted on charges of sodomy. A disgraceful end to an honourable career, Banana was charged of sexually harassing people under him. Despite his repeated insistence, the court was convinced with the evidence against him and condemned him with ten years of imprisonment for homosexual assault. Following the sex scandal, he was stripped of his clerical rank

// Famous Presidents

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the current President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Anwar Sadat

Anwar Sadat was the third President of Egypt and has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his peace initiatives. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on the following biography.

Idi Amin

A Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin is remembered for his brutal regime and crime against humanity. Check this biography to know in details about his life, childhood, profile and timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

Canaan Banana was born on March 5, 1936 in Essexvale, Southern Rhodesia. His father was a migrant who had emigrated to Rhodesia (the earlier name of Zimbabwe),.

Upon acquiring his early education from the missionaries at a local school, Banana pursued his ambition of becoming a teacher by enrolling himself at Tegwani Training Institute.

In 1962, he attained his diploma in theology from the Epworth Theological College in Salisbury. Same year, he was ordained as a United Methodist Minister.

For a year, from 1974 to 1975, he studied at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Career

After attaining his degree, Banana took up teaching positions at various institutions such as, Epworth Theological College, Kansai Industrial Centre, Wesley Theological Seminary and University of South Africa.

He did not limit himself to teaching only and soon got involved in the country’s political affairs. He headed Bulawayo Council of Churches as the chairman from 1969 to 1970. For three years, from 1970 to 1973, he served as a member of the Southern Africa Urban Industrial Mission.

Meanwhile, in 1972, he became a founding member and vice president of African National Council led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, a position which he served until 1973. As a member of the ANC, he represented the political organization in United States and United Nations.

Having contradictory opinions compared to Bishop Abel Muzorewa, in the latter half of 1970s, Banana joined ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union), led by Robert Mugabe which worked fundamentally to dethrone Ian Smith’s government. Ian Smith was the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe at that point of time.

Due to his defiant political practices, he was apprehended a number of times. What’s more, his publications which comprised of rebellious opinions were also banned. Nevertheless, he did not give up on his political pursuits.

In 1980, following the country’s independence, Banana was elected as its first president.

The highpoint in his term as the president came when he played an instrumental role in the merger of Zimbabwe’s two political parties, ZANU and ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People’s Union). The Unity Accord brought to an end Matebeland massacre which had caused death of more than 20000 civilians

In 1987, he retired from his office of the President after the then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe took over the office as the executive President.

Post presidential term, he took up the position of a diplomat in Organisation of African Unity, which aimed at brokering peace in Liberia. He even served as the religious head in the University of Zimbabwe. He was also on the United Nations commission of eminent churchmen investigating business in South Africa.

In 1989, he headed members of the World Council of Churches, who aimed at inhibiting apartheid in South Africa.

In 1997, he was arrested on the charges of sodomy, when during a murder trial his former bodyguard made this startling disclosure. It came to light that during his term as president, Canaan Banana forced several men to accept his sexual advances.

In 1999, he was sentenced to ten years in jail. He spent only six months in an open prison before moving to Great Britain where he was kept under house arrest.

Major Works

Banana did justice to his education by making his presence felt in the arena of liberation theology with his book, ‘The Gospel According to Ghetto’. He also came up with a personalized version of ‘Lord’s Prayer’, which coerced Africans to fight against white authority.

As President, he played a key role in the merger of ZANU and ZAPU, which brought an end to the massacre of innocent civilians.

Personal Life & Legacy

Banana tied the nuptial knot with Janet Mbuyazwe in 1961. The couple was blessed with three sons and a daughter, namely, Michael Thabo, Nathan Sipho, Martin Mhambi Salaam and Nobuhle Beauty.

Banana died due to cancer on November 10, 2003 at Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith due to cancer. His body was taken to Zimbabwe where he was buried. Despite being a former head of state, Banana did not receive full state honors due to his tainted reputation.

Trivia

After coming to power as the President, Canaan Banana passed a law according to which citizens were forbidden to make jokes about his name

// Famous Leaders

Edi Rama

Edi Rama is the current Prime Minister of Albania. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Tecumseh

Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee clan. This biography profiles his childhood, life and timeline.

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Canaan Banana biography timelines

// 5th Mar 1936
Canaan Banana was born on March 5, 1936 in Essexvale, Southern Rhodesia. His father was a migrant who had emigrated to Rhodesia (the earlier name of Zimbabwe),.
// 1961
Banana tied the nuptial knot with Janet Mbuyazwe in 1961. The couple was blessed with three sons and a daughter, namely, Michael Thabo, Nathan Sipho, Martin Mhambi Salaam and Nobuhle Beauty.
// 1962
In 1962, he attained his diploma in theology from the Epworth Theological College in Salisbury. Same year, he was ordained as a United Methodist Minister.
// 1969 To 1973
He did not limit himself to teaching only and soon got involved in the country’s political affairs. He headed Bulawayo Council of Churches as the chairman from 1969 to 1970. For three years, from 1970 to 1973, he served as a member of the Southern Africa Urban Industrial Mission.
// 1972 To 1973
Meanwhile, in 1972, he became a founding member and vice president of African National Council led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, a position which he served until 1973. As a member of the ANC, he represented the political organization in United States and United Nations.
// 1974 To 1975
For a year, from 1974 to 1975, he studied at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
// 1980
In 1980, following the country’s independence, Banana was elected as its first president.
// 1987
In 1987, he retired from his office of the President after the then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe took over the office as the executive President.
// 1989
In 1989, he headed members of the World Council of Churches, who aimed at inhibiting apartheid in South Africa.
// 1997
In 1997, he was arrested on the charges of sodomy, when during a murder trial his former bodyguard made this startling disclosure. It came to light that during his term as president, Canaan Banana forced several men to accept his sexual advances.
// 1999
In 1999, he was sentenced to ten years in jail. He spent only six months in an open prison before moving to Great Britain where he was kept under house arrest.
// 10th Nov 2003
Banana died due to cancer on November 10, 2003 at Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith due to cancer. His body was taken to Zimbabwe where he was buried. Despite being a former head of state, Banana did not receive full state honors due to his tainted reputation.

// Famous Political Leaders

Canaan Banana's FAQ

What is Canaan Banana birthday?
Canaan Banana was born at 1936-03-05
When was Canaan Banana died?
Canaan Banana was died at 2003-11-10
Where was Canaan Banana died?
Canaan Banana was died in London
Which age was Canaan Banana died?
Canaan Banana was died at age 67
Where is Canaan Banana's birth place?
Canaan Banana was born in Esigodini
What is Canaan Banana nationalities?
Canaan Banana's nationalities is Zimbabwean
Who is Canaan Banana spouses?
Canaan Banana's spouses is Janet Banana
Which company or organization was founded by Canaan Banana?
Canaan Banana was the founder/co-founder of United African National Council
What is Canaan Banana's political ideology?
Canaan Banana's political ideology is Political party - ZANU
What is Canaan Banana's religion?
Canaan Banana's religion is Methodism
What is Canaan Banana's sun sign?
Canaan Banana is Pisces
How famous is Canaan Banana?
Canaan Banana is famouse as Former President of Zimbabwe

Canaan Banana - Former President of Zimbabwe, Birthday and Family

Canaan Banana's Personal Details

Canaan Banana's photo