Sophie Kanza

Sophie Kanza
Minister of Social Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In office 31 October 1966 – 6 December 1970
Personal details
Born	Sophie Madeline Kanza 8 February 1940 Léopoldville, Belgian Congo
Died	2 April 1999(1999-04-02) (aged 59) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Political party	Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution
Spouse	Marcel Lihau ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	6
Alma mater	University of Geneva Harvard University

Sophie Lihau-Kanza or Zala Lusibu N'Kanza (8 February 1940 – 2 April 1999) was a Congolese politician and sociologist. She was the first woman of her country to receive a secondary education, the first to graduate from a university, and the first to hold a government office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, serving as Minister of Social Affairs from 31 October 1966 to 6 December 1970. In her later life she held positions within the United Nations.