FORT LAMY [N'DJAMENA], APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - In French Equatorial Africa: it was erected on 9 January 1947 with territory detached from the apostolic vicariates of Foumban and Khartoum. With the prefecture of Berberati and the apostolic vicariate of Bangui, exchanges of territory were made in order to make the boundaries of the new prefecture coincide with the civil boundaries of the colony of Chad, which is part of French Equatorial Africa. It is entrusted to the Jesuits.
The vast territory of about 1,180,000 sq km is divided into various districts, of which those of Kanem, Barha, and Ouadai are Muslim, those of Selamat and Chari-Baguirmi are Islamized, and the districts of Mayo-Kebbi, Logone, and Moyen-Chari are animist. The new prefecture therefore has the purpose of halting the Muslim advance from north to south. The capital is F. L. on Lake Chad. The climate is very hot. The population is about 1,400,000 inhabitants, of whom 1,000,000 are Muslims, 400,000 pagans, 1,500 Protestants, 993 Catholics, and 1,000 catechumens. There are 7 Jesuit missionaries, 2 brothers, 11 Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, distributed among 6 primary stations and 2 secondary ones. Three elementary schools are open with several pupils. The climate, the Muslim environment, the multiplicity of dialects spoken, as well as the competition of the Protestants, make the work of the missionaries very hard.
Bibliography
Saverio Paventi