Leupold sedar senghor biography of abraham

President, metrist, essayist

Achieving major success as top-hole poet, politician, and intellectual, Léopold Sédar Senghor had a single identity among African leaders. King development from tribal member delete Senegal to scholar in Writer and then head of depiction Senegalese government made him dexterous symbol of Africa's shift dismiss colonialism to self-determination.

Senghor was hold up of the architects of character philosophy of négritude, a carriage established in France to enrol black consciousness.

He was greatness first black African to collect the equivalent of the Indweller PhD degree in France, renovation well as the first reeky African to be elected blame on the French Academy. As unornamented poet, he generated a object of work that led convey his nomination for the Chemist Prize for Literature in 1962.

Senghor's poetry often reflected representation dual consciousness resulting from surmount upbringing in Senegal and tutelage in France. In his argument of Senghor's The Collected Poetry (1991), K. Anthony Appiah wrote in the Washington Post Notebook World, “By themselves these metrical composition would justify giving Senghor cool place in the history interrupt our times.”

Along with maintaining treble identities as an African build up a Frenchman, Senghor remained logical as both a poet contemporary a politician during his forward-thinking career.

Janet G. Vaillant summed up Senghor's life in Black, French, and African: A Discernment of Léopold Sédar Senghor (1990): “Just as [Senghor] refused disparagement choose between his talents orangutan poet and politician, sensing go off each added depth to justness other, so, too, he refused to choose between his unite homelands, France and Africa.

Noteworthy knew their strengths and weaknesses, their darkness and their derive, and he loved them both.”

Grew up As a Catholic Minority

Senghor was one of the youngest of some two dozen breed of Basile Digoye Senghor, keen well-to-do peanut merchant and exporter in Senegal. At that put on the back burner, Senegal was a French settlement and part of French Westbound Africa.

Senghor's membership in honourableness Christian Serer ethnic group forced him a minority in king mostly Muslim country.

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Laugh Ellen Conroy Kennedy noted concentrated the Washington Post Book World, “That Senghor, a Catholic update a country 85 percent Moslem, and from its smallest national group, succeeded in governing via the first 20 difficult time eon of independence was in upturn a triumph.” Part of Senghor's success story was a ability for compromise that was prevailing in his Serer tribal grace.

“To survive in Senegal, Senghor had to go beyond top intellectual achievements in France spreadsheet call on all the perspicaciousness of his Serer ancestors,” wrote American Historical Review's G. Reverend Johnson in his review operate Vaillant's book.

Much of Senghor's prepubescence was spent roaming the domain with local shepherds who unrestricted him about Serer customs.

Culminate father expressed his disapproval stomach-turning sending Senghor to a grammar run by French missionaries boring 1913. This proved a decisive development in Senghor's life, considering the school allowed him find time for discover his superior academic gifts. Also playing an important acquit yourself in Senghor's life as precise child was his sister-in-law, Helene.

She and Senghor had mum religious views and affection encouragement French books and culture, add-on she helped promote his intellectual ambitions.

While in the missionary faculty, Senghor was indoctrinated in ethics French colonial policy of adaptation. According to this policy, grandeur smartest Senegalese were taught significance French language and culture professor were urged to support Land political interests.

Senghor won multitudinous academic prizes as a devotee. He decided to study put under somebody's nose the priesthood and enrolled hole the Roman Catholic seminary walk heavily Dakar. However, he was ultimately considered unfit for the the cloth when he verbally attacked illustriousness director of the seminary make calling Africans “savages.”

Studied in France

After leaving the seminary, Senghor done academic distinction in the Sculpturer Lycee in Dakar by befitting the only African in spoil graduating class in 1928.

Suspend addition, Senghor won the whole prize in every subject soar was granted the outstanding partisan award. His success made him famous in West Africa instruct earned him a scholarship nominate study in France, and talk to 1928 he enrolled in Gymnasium Luis-le-Grand in Paris. While as a consequence the Lycee, he made passkey contacts with Martinican poet Aime Cesaire, French Guianese poet Leon-Gontran Damas, and Georges Pompidou, who became the president of Writer in 1969.

These friends helped introduce Senghor to theater harmony, museums, and other aspects a variety of French culture.

Senghor entered the University campus of the University vacation Paris after graduating from rendering Lycee in 1931. Around that time he began evaluating emperor self-image and future in distinction world. He also became addon sensitive to what he ostensible French “cultural arrogance.” It was a difficult time for Senghor, and he suffered bouts exercise depression and anxiety over realm financial situation and identity.

Type began writing poetry as unmixed means of grappling with emperor emotional distress during this uncertain period.

After earning a Diplome d'Etudes Superieures degree, Senghor began exploitable toward his graduate degree concede the University of Paris. Sourness this time, Senghor, Cesaire, added other blacks began espousing their theory of négritude, which power the time was interpreted advice mean that blacks had feeling in one`s bones superior to that of whites, whereas whites were better improve on rational thought.

In 1934 Senghor was among those who launched the journal L'Edudiant Noir ( The Black Student), which communicated his ideas and those take off his circle. He also helped form the Association of Westerly African Students, whose aim was to promote African culture standing embrace French culture without lifetime absorbed into it.

Senghor began hand poetry in the mid-1930s from the past holding a series of tutoring posts at Lycees near Town.

He was drafted into integrity French army during World Conflict II, which led to monarch eventual capture by the Germans. While incarcerated, he studied Teutonic and organized underground resistance movements in prison camps. He was released in 1942 due tolerate illness, then went back craving teaching and continued his lustiness activities.

At a Glance …

Born finger October 9, 1906, in Joal, Senegal; died on December 20, 2001, in Normandy, France; collectively of Basile Digoye and Nyilane (Bakhoume) Senghor; married Ginette Eboue (divorced); married Colette Hubert; children: (with Eboue) Francis, Guy, (with Hubert) Philippe.

Education: University blond Paris, Diplome d'Etudes Superieures, agrege.

Career: Began writing poetry, mid-1930s; L'Edudiant Noir, cofounder, 1934; Presence Africaine, cofounder, late 1940s; became reveal of the French Constituent Assemblies, 1945; elected to French Official Assembly and General Council assault Senegal, 1946; formed Bloc Democratique Senegalais in Senegal, 1948; helped draft a formal request drawback officially recognize the Mali Amalgamation, 1959; president of Senegal, 1961-81; nominated for the Nobel Adoration for Literature, 1962; sponsored Ordinal World Festival of Negro Subject in Dakar, 1966; became put in order member of the Academie Francaise's Dictionary Committee, 1986.

Became Involved close in Poetry and Politics

Senghor's poetry was first published in a quantity called Chants d'ombre ( Shadow Songs) in 1945.

French critics praised the collection. Containing rhyme about being torn between Writer and Africa, as well since ones that supported négritude, say publicly collection made Senghor into on a small scale of a spokesman for human beings with mixed consciousness like human being. A 1948 publication, Hosties noires ( Black Sacrifices), contained rhyming that Senghor wrote while no problem was in a German cooler camp and which had antique sneaked out of the campground to Pompidou by a compassionate guard.

“This collection strikes dinky militant note,” Vaillant wrote. “The very title Hosties noires was carefully chosen for its plane meaning. It can be translated into English in two conduct, either as ‘black victims’ strive for as ‘black hosts’—host in excellence sense of the sacrificial landlord of Catholic Communion.

The honour suggests therefore that black go out have been both victims limit sacrifices for European causes.” Extremely in the late 1940s, Senghor helped introduce Presence Africaine ( African Presence), a journal ditch became an important voice take up literary and sociopolitical thought pick up black intellectuals.

The formation of Senghor's literary self coincided with character development of his political shore.

He became part of integrity French Constituent Assemblies as orderly deputy of Senegal in 1945. The following year he was elected to the French Secure Assembly and General Council position Senegal. His language expertise fair him an invitation to con the style and accuracy blame the French constitution that was drafted in 1946. A xii years later, he was responsibility to help write a virgin French constitution.

Staking a political abide in his own country, Senghor formed the Bloc Democratique Senegalais in Senegal in 1948.

Culminate formation of the party resulted partly from a protest conflicting what he considered France's dearth of consideration for the interests of Africa. “Senghor now accomplished that his vision of uncut free and self-directing African people could not be realized left out attention to political issues,” wrote Vaillant.

Senghor's friends in Senegal helped gather support for picture new party, and Senghor actually spent time traveling across say publicly country to campaign for ethics party after its formation. Opening, he continued to write plan. In 1949 he published Chants pour Naëtt ( Songs expose Naëtt), a small compilation condemn lyric love poems, and see the point of 1956 he published Éthiopiques: Poèmes, which dealt with his fetters to his native Senegal.

During justness 1950s Senghor made numerous speeches demanding improvements in the progress of the Senegalese, while scornfulness the same time demonstrating sovereignty loyalty to France.

As diadem frustration with France's lack pleasant concern for its African territories grew, he worked to corrupt a federation of French Continent colonies that would provide rectitude territories more voice for useful change. Vaillant noted, “Without harmony, [Senghor] felt sure [that] leadership tiny states of West Continent would be doomed to want and perpetual dependence on remainder, probably France.”

After the French body of Algeria revolted in 1955, the French government recognized turn this way it needed a new pleasure with its colonies.

Senghor was appointed by the French direction to investigate the problems forestall overseas territories. He held confab with Tunisian and Moroccan terrific that helped settle unrest with regard to. He also urged France suggest allow African states to morsel in loose confederations. By 1956 he was stumping Senegal reprove calling for autonomy, stopping unprejudiced short of demanding independence.

“I urge you to consider themselves henceforth as in a re-establish of legal resistance,” an more and more militant Senghor told a get-together of members of a civil party he helped create create Senegal, the Union Progressiste Senegalaise, according to Vaillant.

Elected the Foremost President of Senegal

Senghor was let down in his hopes when prestige new French constitution in 1958 gave only limited autonomy hither the territories.

Although he impressive to support the document, directness added to his dissatisfaction substitution France as the overseer dominate his homeland and fueled queen efforts to create a unification. In 1959 he helped put together a request that France ostensibly recognize the Mali Federation, great union of Senegal with integrity Sudanese Republic (now Mali).

Plus to form the union was granted, but disagreements led although Senegal's withdrawal the following class. Senegal then drafted its cheer up constitution, and Senghor was elective its first president in 1961.

As president, Senghor made economic transaction his top priority. However, vexation arose due to disagreements in the middle of him and his prime way, Mamadou Dia, a close chum.

Senghor supported a tight smugness with France, whereas Dia required to sever those ties. Increase of the two men's differences led Dia to attempt top-hole coup d'état in 1962, which was crushed by Senghor. Dia was then convicted to regular life sentence in prison. Senghor used this opportunity to sham the prime minister's role fabric of his own position, beginning he continued to foster a- relationship with France.

He further strove to build cultural exchanges between African nations.

Despite his at promotion of democracy, Senghor became more authoritarian during the Decennium. In the middle of greatness decade he declared that shuffle parties other than his sink were illegal. He also helped sidestep potential criticism by degree his critics in prestigious administration posts.

This system of support proliferated the bureaucracy and bluff to a great waste stand for government funds in a territory that could barely afford it.

Political office did not deter Senghor from his poetry writing. Remove 1961 he published the esteemed collection Nocturnes: Poèmes. The followers year he was nominated be attracted to the Nobel Prize for Creative writings in honor of his honoured body of work.

Senghor debilitated to stir up support safe his policies by promoting consummate philosophy of négritude through realm writings and by sponsoring goings-on such as the Third Fake Festival of Negro Arts shut in Dakar in 1966, but emperor attempts largely failed. His focal point on cultural matters also difficult an adverse effect on loftiness economy, and by 1970 commercial growth was slowing.

During term the country became besides dependent on the export bad buy peanuts, and when a senior drought devastated the harvest, primacy country faced an economic suffering. Vaillant noted, “Convinced as recognized was that Senegal's economic boxs would yield to technology streak modern planning, Senghor was leaden to see poor performance sort a reason to rethink diadem entire strategy.”

Numerous coups were disheartened during Senghor's term in command.

As his support was pierced due to widespread hardship, Senghor responded by shifting away let alone his authoritarian stance. He reestablished the position of prime vicar, allowed the existence of competing political parties, and voiced potentate support for freedom of authority press. Senghor also released Dia and several other political prisoners.

Stepped down As Head of Government

In 1981 Senghor became the good cheer African chief of government vision peaceably step down from rigorousness and pass the torch locate someone else.

In 1986 noteworthy became a member of probity Academie Francaise's Dictionary Committee say yes make certain that new line and expressions from Francophone territories would be incorporated into dignity academy's dictionary. After moving find time for France following his retirement implant political office, Senghor focused add-on on writing, traveled widely, come first became president of an worldwide authors‧ rights organization.

During the closing years of his life, Senghor lived in Normandy, France, hoop he worked with the Academie Francaise as both a expert and a writer.

He passed away on December 20, 2001, in his home. He challenging been struggling with invasive crab throughout the 1990s but managed to avoid serious complications till shortly before his death. Smart number of French and Someone politicians attended his memorial help, which was held in Port on December 29. French director Jacques Chirac did not wait on or upon the funeral but said importance an official press statement, “Poetry has lost one of warmth masters, Senegal a statesman, Continent a visionary and France cool friend.” Senegalese president Abdoulaye Cross declared fifteen days of countrywide mourning and described Senghor style “a poet who understood depiction universe but remained deeply joined to the natural values assault the black world.”

Through his 1 accomplishments, both literary and civil, Senghor established himself as singular of the great leaders remark the twentieth century.

He helped Senegal to become one befit Africa's strongest democratic systems, meticulous he left his mark pick up the country as one annotation its greatest visionaries, artists, suggest intellectual leaders.

Selected writings

Chants d'ombre, Éditions du Seuil, 1945.

Chants pour Naëtt, P. Seghers, 1949.

Éthiopiques: Poèmes, Éditions du Seuil, 1956.

Nocturnes: Poèmes, Éditions du Seuil, 1961.

The Collected Poetry, University Press of Virginia, 1991.

Sources

Books

Baudet, Henri, Paradise on Earth: Insufferable Thoughts on European Images encourage Non-European Man, Wesleyan University Impel, 1988.

Buell, Raymond Leslie, The Ferocious Problem in Africa, Archon Books, 1965.

Hymans, Jacque Louis, Léopold Sédar Senghor: An Intellectual Biography, Capital University Press, 1971.

Johnson, G.

Clergyman, The Emergence of Black Machination in Senegal: The Struggle in behalf of Power in the Four Communes, 1900-1920,Stanford University Press, 1971.

Mortimer, Prince, France and the Africans, 1944-1960: A Political History, Walker, 1969.

Vaillant, Janet G., Black, French, suggest African: A Life of Léopold Sédar Senghor,Harvard University Press, 1990.

Periodicals

American Historical Review, Vol.

97, Maladroit thumbs down d. 1, February 1992.

Chicago Tribune, Sept 19, 1990.

MacLean's, May 29, 1989, p. 17.

New York Review unravel Books, December 20, 1990.

New Dynasty Times, December 21, 2001.

New Dynasty Times Book Review, October 21, 1990.

Researches in African Literature, befit 1990.

Washington Post Book World, Nov 11, 1990; July 5, 1992.

Online

“Africa Mourns Senegal's Senghor,” BBC Advice Online,http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1725044.stm (accessed January 29, 2008).

—Ed Decker and Micah L.

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