The emperor's children: Peter Strandberg went to meet one of the grandchildren of the former emperor of Central African Republic, Jean Bedel Bokassa, and came back with the fascinating story of a family still haunted and hounded by the deeds of the emperor.

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The emperor's children: Peter Strandberg went to meet one of the grandchildren of the former emperor of Central African Republic, Jean Bedel Bokassa, and came back with the fascinating story of a family still haunted and hounded by the deeds of the emperor.

Jean-Barthelemy Bokassa's life story could be out of a Hollywood-film script. He belongs to a large family spread out in exile around the world and his grandfather, Jean Bedel Bokassa, was crowned emperor in the heart of Africa 30 years ago.

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Emperor Bokassa, president for life and later the emperor of the Central African Republic from 1966 to 1979, was probably the most bizarre leader to have ever existed on the African continent. The lives of his many children and grandchildren are a fascinating story, yet the dark shadow from the past is always present.

One of his grandchildren--in fact his first grandchild--Jean-Barthelemy Bokassa (or JB as his friends prefer to call him) is 33 years old but looks younger. With his background in three continents and a family spread out around the world, JB see...

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