Francis Aupiais

Francis Aupiais (11 August 1877 – 14 December 1945) was a French Roman Catholic missionary, anthropologist, and writer.

[1] Aupiais was an important religious figure and helped advance the careers of Paul Hazoumé and Sourou-Migan Apithy.

[2] In 1925, Aupiais founded the journal La Reconnaissance Africaine, striving to publish ethnographic studies by Dahomeyans and popularize African culture abroad.

He was a strident admirer of the indigenous culture and integrated traditional music, costumes and dances into religious celebrations.

[1] In 1926, he returned to Paris and sought to end forced labor in the colonies and joined the executive committee of the annual Louvain Missiology Week.