https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/52851338-cf7a-462c-b0d4-aff9e557730b Sunday, December 4, 1977 in Bangui, Central African Republic. His Majesty Jean-Bedel Bokassa I crowns himself and, a few moments later, crowns his wife according to a staging directly inspired by the coronation of his favorite emperor: Napoleon I. The coronation of Bokassa I was a spectacle the likes of which had not been seen in Africa. Floor-length, ermine-trimmed coats, magnificently dressed riders in hussar uniforms and rides through the capital in imperial horse-drawn carriages – the backdrop and costumes of this outrageous spectacle had nothing in common with African tradition. Of course, the press had been invited to follow everything, but numerous foreign dignitaries had also accepted the invitation. Despite Bokassa's distrust of the media, the streets were lined with foreign reporters. How were they chosen? Could cameramen and photographers move freely? Which of the invited emperors, kings and queens, heads of state, prime ministers attended the festivities? How could the Central African Republic, then one of the poorest countries in the world, finance this lavish ceremony? And how did it end up looking in the press? Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:46:34 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://tankie.tube https://tankie.tube/lazy-static/avatars/3ba3ff73-a8b6-49c9-add8-9653ef090c7f.webp https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/52851338-cf7a-462c-b0d4-aff9e557730b All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://tankie.tube/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.