Youlou, whose last name means "Grape" in Lari, was born on 9 June 1917 in Madibou in Pool.
A younger child in a family of three boys, he was a Lari of the Kongo.
At nine years old, he was baptised and received the Christian name Fulbert.
In 1929 he entered the Petit Séminaire of Brazzaville.
A bright student, he was sent to Akono in Cameroon to complete his secondary studies.
After this, he entered the Grand Séminaire of Yaoundé where he did very well in philosophy.
Here he met Barthélemy Boganda, the future nationalist leader of Oubangui-Chari and the first prime minister of the Central African Republic autonomous territory, but also Andre-Marie Mbida, Cameroon's first head of state.

Returning to the country, he taught at the Seminary in Mbamou before travelling to Libreville to complete his theological studies.
He completed his final cycle of studies in Brazzaville.
Fulbert Youlou was ordained as a priest on 9 June 1946 or in 1949.
He was assigned to the parish of Saint-François de Brazzaville where he directed several youth organisations, sporting activities, and Catholic groups.
He also covered the general hospital and the prison.
Youlou, whose last name means "Grape" in Lari, was born on 9 June 1917 in Madibou in Pool. A younger child in a family of three boys, he was a Lari of the Kongo. At nine years old, he was baptised and received the Christian name Fulbert. In 1929 he entered the Petit Séminaire of Brazzaville. A bright student, he was sent to Akono in Cameroon to complete his secondary studies. After this, he entered the Grand Séminaire of Yaoundé where he did very well in philosophy. Here he met Barthélemy Boganda, the future nationalist leader of Oubangui-Chari and the first prime minister of the Central African Republic autonomous territory, but also Andre-Marie Mbida, Cameroon's first head of state.
Returning to the country, he taught at the Seminary in Mbamou before travelling to Libreville to complete his theological studies. He completed his final cycle of studies in Brazzaville. Fulbert Youlou was ordained as a priest on 9 June 1946 or in 1949. He was assigned to the parish of Saint-François de Brazzaville where he directed several youth organisations, sporting activities, and Catholic groups. He also covered the general hospital and the prison.
Fulbert Youlou