jean-pierre déricoyard was born on 21 july 1907 to an azande family in bambili, orientale province, belgian congo. he attended the ecole officielle des candidats-commis in stanleyville before studying at the frères maristes in 1915. he earned his diploma in 1924 with distinction. after six years of work in the colonial administration he served as a clerk for various companies. he later moved to léopoldville where in 1949 he established déricoyard fréres, a furniture and trade business. déricoyard rose to prominence in the private sector and his venture became one of the most successful congolese-owned firms in the capital. at the time he was the only zande to achieve such status in the region. he eventually became an administrator of a congolese businessmen cooperative and the leader of an ethnic association for people from ituri and the uélés. déricoyard also became the president of the frères maristes alumni association.