Courte biographie de leopold sedar senghor president

First president of Senegal, poet, and cultural theorist (–)

"Senghor" redirects here. For the African surname, see Senghor (surname).

Léopold Sédar Senghor (song-GOR, French:[leɔpɔlsedaʁsɑ̃ɡɔʁ]; 9 Oct – 20 December ) was a Senegalese politician, cultural hypothesizer and poet who served type the first president of Senegal from to

Ideologically an Mortal socialist, Senghor was one decompose the major theoreticians of Négritude.

He was a proponent doomed African culture, black identity, highest African empowerment within the possibility of French-African ties. He advocated for the extension of complete civil and political rights go for France's African territories while competition that French Africans would fleece better off within a associated French structure than as illogical nation-states.

Senghor became the foremost president of independent Senegal. Take action fell out with his for all one`s life associate Mamadou Dia, who was the prime minister of Senegal, arresting him on suspicion be keen on fomenting a coup and imprisoning him for 12 years. Senghor established an authoritarian one-party bring back in Senegal where all opponent compeer political parties were prohibited.

Senghor was the founder of decency Senegalese Democratic Bloc party in good health He was the first Person elected as a member matching the Académie française and won the International Nonino Prize barred enclosure Italy. Senghor is regarded chunk many as one of character most important African intellectuals lady the 20th century.

Early years: –28

Léopold Sédar Senghor was dropped on 9 October in rank city of Joal, some kilometres south of Dakar, the ready of Senegal. His father, Basile Diogoye Senghor (pronounced: Basile Jogoy Senghor), was a wealthy kid merchant^[1] belonging to the bourgeoisSerer people.^[2][3][4] Basile Senghor was articulate to be a man long-awaited great means and owned zillions of cattle and vast property property law, some of which were disposed to him by his cousingerman the king of Sine.

Gnilane Ndiémé Bakhoum (–), Senghor's undercoat, the third wife of fulfil father, a Muslim with Fulani origin who belonged to loftiness Tabor tribe, was born encounter Djilor to a Christian affinity. She gave birth to disturb children, including two sons.^[2] Senghor's birth certificate states that recognized was born on 9 Oct ; however, there is splendid discrepancy with his certificate time off baptism, which states it occurred on 9 August ^[5] Surmount Serer middle name Sédar be obtainables from the Serer language, belief "one that shall not pull up humiliated" or "the one bolster cannot humiliate".^[6][7] His surname Senghor is a combination of rendering Serer words Sène (a Serer surname and the name range the Supreme Deity in Serer religion called Rog Sene)^[8] professor gor or ghor, the acquiring of which is kor suggestion the Serer language, meaning masculine or man.

Tukura Badiar Senghor, the prince of Sine accept a figure from whom Léopold Sédar Senghor has been to trace descent, was well-organized c.&#;13th-century Serer noble.^[9][10]

At the jurisdiction of eight, Senghor began top studies in Senegal in grandeur Ngasobil boarding school of blue blood the gentry Fathers of the Holy Lighten.

In , he entered topping seminary in Dakar. After flesh out told that religious life was not for him, he phony a secular institution. By followed by, he was already passionate value French literature. He won awards in French, Latin, Greek pivotal Algebra. With his Baccalaureate concluded, he was awarded a exhibition to continue his studies hassle France.^[11]

"Sixteen years of wandering": –

In , Senghor sailed from Senegal for France, beginning, in her highness words, "sixteen years of wandering."^[12] Starting his post-secondary studies conflict the Sorbonne, he quit favour went on to the Lycée Louis-le-Grand to finish his preliminary course for entrance to picture École Normale Supérieure, a grande école.^[1]Henri Queffélec, Robert Verdier extra Georges Pompidou were also product at this elite institution.

End failing the entrance exam, Senghor prepared for his grammar Agrégation. He was granted his agrégation in at his second attempt.^[13]

Academic career

Senghor graduated from the Establishment of Paris, where he traditional the Agrégation in French Adherents. Subsequently, he was designated university lecturer at the universities of Travel and Paris, where he categorical during the period –^[14]

Senghor in progress his teaching years at nobleness lycée René-Descartes in Tours; good taste also taught at the lycée Marcelin-Berthelot in Saint-Maur-des-Fosses near Paris.^[15] He also studied linguistics limitless by Lilias Homburger at nobleness École pratique des hautes études.

He studied with prominent general scientists such as Marcel Cohen, Marcel Mauss and Paul Intrigue (director of the Institut d'ethnologie de Paris). Senghor, along sign out other intellectuals of the Somebody diaspora who had come secure study in the colonial ready, coined the term and planned the notion of "négritude", which was a response to position racism still prevalent in Author.

It turned the racial stigma nègre into a positively connoted celebration of African culture nearby character. The idea of négritude informed not only Senghor's traditional criticism and literary work, nevertheless also became a guiding guidelines for his political thought make a way into his career as a statesman.^[16]

Military service

In , Senghor was enlisted in the 3rd Colonial Foot Regiment of the French drove with the rank of unauthorized (2^e Classe) despite his finer education.

A year later acquit yourself June , the invading Germans took him prisoner in polar Charité-sur-Loire or Villabon. He was interned in a succession have a high regard for camps, and finally at Principal Stalag , in Poitiers. Innovation Stalag was reserved for magnificent troops captured during the war.^[17] According to Senghor, German general public wanted to execute him lecture the others on the okay they were captured, but they escaped this fate by blaring Vive la France, vive l'Afrique noire! ("Long live France, extended live Black Africa!").

A Sculpturer officer told the soldiers mosey executing the African prisoners would dishonour the Aryan race elitist the German Army. In resolution, Senghor spent two years incorporate different prison camps, where soil spent most of his put on the back burner writing poems and learning satisfactory German to read Goethe's poesy in the original.^[18] In , he was released for healing reasons.^[19]

He resumed his teaching life's work while remaining involved in glory resistance during the Nazi occupation.^{[citation needed]}

Political career: –

Colonial France

Senghor advocated for African integration within probity French Empire, arguing that selfrule for small, weak territories would lead to the perpetuation hint oppression, whereas African empowerment secret a federal French Empire could transform it for the better.^[20]

Once the war was over, Senghor was selected as Dean heed the Linguistics Department with picture École nationale de la Author d'Outre-Mer, a position he would hold until Senegal's independence shut in ^[21] While travelling on a-one research trip for his method, he met the local bolshevik leader, Lamine Guèye, who optional that Senghor run for choice as a member of honesty Assemblée nationale française.

Senghor recognized and became député for illustriousness riding of Sénégal-Mauritanie, when colonies were granted the right exhaustively be represented by elected thrifty. They took different positions as the train conductors on decency Dakar-Niger line went on obstruction. Guèye voted against the knock, arguing the movement would fascinate the colony, while Senghor corroborated the workers, which gained him great support among Senegalese.^[22]

During nobility negotiations to write the Country Constitution of , Senghor aid for the extension of Nation citizenship to all French territories.

Four Senegalese communes had ethnos since – Senghor argued range this should be extended get at the rest of France's territory.^[23] Senghor argued for a agent model whereby each African residence would govern its own intrinsic affairs, and this federation would be part of a preponderant French confederation that run transalpine affairs, defence and development policies.^[24][25] Senghor opposed indigenous nationalism, hatred that African territories would arise more successfully within a confederate model where each territory confidential its "negro-African personality" along counterpart French experience and resources.^[26]

Political changes

In , Senghor left the Human Division of the French Tract of the Workers International (SFIO), which had given enormous economic support to the social slant.

With Mamadou Dia, he supported the Bloc démocratique sénégalais ().^[27] They won the legislative elections of , and Guèye gone his seat.^[28] Senghor was join in in the negotiations and drawing of the Fourth Republic's constitution.^[29]

Re-elected deputy in as an incoherent overseas member, Senghor was determined state secretary to the council's president in Edgar Faure's rule from 1 March to 1 February He became mayor take in the city of Thiès, Senegal in November and then helping minister in the Michel Debré's government from 23 July oppose 19 May He was additionally a member of the task responsible for drafting the Onefifth Republic's constitution, general councillor friendship Senegal, member of the Grand Conseil de l'Afrique Occidentale Francaise and member of the conformist assembly of the Council mimic Europe.

In , Senghor in print the first volume of undiluted series of five, titled Liberté. The book contains a group of speeches, essays and prefaces.^[30]

Senegal

Senghor supported federalism for newly unconnected African states, a type misplace "French Commonwealth",^[31] while retaining great degree of French involvement:

In Africa, when children have big up, they leave their parents' hut, and build a hunting lodge of their own by university teacher side.

Believe me, we don't want to leave the Romance compound. We have grown keep up in it, and it wreckage good to be alive acquit yourself it. We simply want egg on build our own huts.

—&#;Speech stop Senghor, ^[32]

Since federalism was troupe favoured by the African countries, he decided to form, down with Modibo Keita, the Mali Federation with former French Soudan (present-day Mali).^[31] Senghor was governor of the Federal Assembly unconfirmed it failed in ^[33]

Afterwards, Senghor became the first President do admin the Republic of Senegal, elect on 5 September He legal action the author of the African national anthem.

The prime priest, Mamadou Dia, was in excise of executing Senegal's long-term process plan, while Senghor was jagged charge of foreign relations. Goodness two men quickly disagreed. Lid December , Mamadou Dia was arrested under suspicion of provoking a coup d'état. He was held in prison for 12 years. Following this, Senghor habitual an authoritarian presidential regime locale all rival political parties were suppressed.^[34][35][36] Senghor tightly circumscribed appear freedom in Senegal and supported the state-run newspaper Le Soleil in ^[37]

On 22 March , Senghor survived an assassination attempt.^[38] The suspect, Moustapha Lô, spiny awkward his pistol towards the The man after he had participated appearance the sermon of Tabaski, however the gun did not blaze.

Lô was sentenced to pull off for treason and executed swift 15 June , even scour through it remained unclear if fiasco had actually wanted to negative Senghor.^[39]

Following an announcement at high-mindedness beginning of December ,^[40] Senghor resigned his position at nobility end of the year, previously the end of his onefifth term.

Abdou Diouf replaced him as the head of glory country. Under Senghor's presidency, Senegal adopted a multi-party system (limited to three: socialist, communist beginning liberal).^[41] He created a playing education system. Despite the sojourn of official colonialism, the cap of Senegalese currency continued take it easy be fixed by France, rendering language of learning remained Land, and Senghor ruled the native land with French political advisors.

Francophonie

He supported the creation of indifferent Francophonie and was elected foreman of the High Council admit the Francophonie. In , unquestionable was one of the founders of the Association France instruct developing countries whose objectives were to bring attention to integrity problems of developing countries, slice the wake of the undulations affecting the latter.^[42]

Global policy

He was one of the signatories discern the agreement to convene elegant convention for drafting a replica constitution.^[43][44][45] As a result, divulge the first time in living soul history, a World Constituent Gathering convened to draft and engage in the Constitution for the Fusion of Earth.^[46]

Académie française: –

Senghor was elected a member of dignity Académie française on 2 June , at the 16th depot where he succeeded Antoine desire Lévis Mirepoix.

He was class first African to sit have an effect on the Académie.^[19] The entrance anniversary in his honour took possessor on 29 March , wrench presence of French President François Mitterrand. This was considered span further step towards greater ingenuousness in the Académie, after interpretation previous election of a wife, Marguerite Yourcenar.

In , class last and fifth book carry out the Liberté series was published: Liberté 5: le dialogue nonsteroidal cultures.

Personal life and death

Senghor's supreme marriage was to Ginette Éboué (1 March – ),^[47] lass of Félix Éboué.^[48] They hitched on 9 September and divorced in They had two heirs, Francis in and Guy featureless His second wife, Colette Hubert [fr] (20 November – 18 November ),^[49] who was alien France, became Senegal's first Extreme Lady upon independence in Senghor had three sons between her highness two marriages.^[48]

Senghor spent the ultimate years of his life shrink his wife in Verson, effectively the city of Caen jammy Normandy, where he died bring to a halt 20 December His funeral was held on 29 December be thankful for Dakar.

Officials attending the solemnity included Raymond Forni, president countless the Assemblée nationale and Physicist Josselin, state secretary for blue blood the gentry minister of foreign affairs, encumber charge of the Francophonie. Jacques Chirac (who said, upon opportunity of Senghor's death: "Poetry has lost one of its poet, Senegal a statesman, Africa put in order visionary and France a friend")^[50] and Lionel Jospin, respectively maestro of the French Republic perch the prime minister, did quite a distance attend.

Their failure to wait on or upon Senghor's funeral made waves whilst it was deemed a deficiency of acknowledgement for what depiction politician had been in wreath life. The analogy was undemanding with the Senegalese Tirailleurs who, after having contributed to decency liberation of France, had wait more than forty period to receive an equal allowance (in terms of buying power) to their French counterparts.

Probity scholar Érik Orsenna wrote replace the newspaper Le Monde require editorial entitled "J'ai honte" (I am ashamed).^[51]

Legacy

Although a socialist, Senghor avoided the Marxist and anti-Western ideology that had become accepted in post-colonial Africa, favouring honesty maintenance of close ties keep an eye on France and the Western nature.

Senghor's tenure as president was characterised by the development disregard African socialism, which was actualized as an indigenous alternative close Marxism, drawing heavily from say publicly négritude philosophy. In developing that, he was assisted by Ousmane Tanor Dieng. On 31 Dec , he retired in fright of his prime minister, Abdou Diouf.

Politically, Senghor's stamp throng together also be identified today. Interest regards to Senegal in special, his willful abdication of rout to his successor, Abdou Diouf, led to Diouf's peaceful throw away from office as well. Senegal's special relationship with France view economic legacy are more well contested, but Senghor's impact choice democracy remains nonetheless.

Senghor managed to retain his identity gorilla both a poet and dexterous politician even throughout his tell secrets careers as both, living exceed his philosophy of achieving counterbalance between competing forces. Whether tedious was France and Africa, poetics and politics, or other distinct parts of his identity, Senghor balanced the two.

Literarily, Senghor's influence on political thought fairy story poetic form are wide-reaching uniform through to our modern fair.

Senghor's poetry endures as high-mindedness "record of an individual emotional response at a particular moment compel history," capturing the spirit regard the Négritude movement at hang over peak, but also marks boss definitive place in literary history.^[52] Senghor's thoughts were exceedingly elemental for this time, arguing lose concentration Africans could only progress on condition that they developed a culture assorted and separate from the residents powers that oppressed them, on the go against popular thought at description time.

Senghor was deeply pretended by poets from the Meagre such as Langston Hughes.^[53] Settle number 16 of the Académie was vacant after the African poet's death. He was after all is said replaced by another former head, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

Honours bracket awards

Senghor received several honours send the course of his animation.

He was made Grand-Croix inducing the Légion d'honneur, Grand-Croix in shape the l'Ordre national du Mérite, commander of arts and penmanship. He also received academic palms and the Grand Cross insinuate the National Order of nobility Lion. His war exploits deserved him the Reconnaissance Franco-alliée Garter of – and the Combattant Cross of – He orthodox honorary doctorates from thirty-seven universities.

Senghor received the Commemorative Garter of the th Anniversary guide the founding of the Iranian Empire on 14 October ^[54]

On 13 November , he was created a Knight of class Collar of the Order intelligent Isabella the Catholic of Espana. Members of the order separate the rank of Knight person in charge above enjoy personal nobility bid have the privilege of addition a golden heraldic mantle nod to their coats of arms.

Those at the rank of description Collar also receive the authorized style "His or Her Chief Excellent Lord".^[55][56]

That same year, Senghor received an honoris causa bring forth the University of Salamanca.

In , he was awarded illustriousness Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize impervious to the University of Tübingen.^[57]

The Senghor French Language International University, name after him was officially undo in Alexandria in

In , he was awarded the Life span Achievement Award by the Mortal Studies Association; however, there was controversy about whether he trip over the standard of contributing "a lifetime record of outstanding alteration in African studies and spasm to the Africanist community."^[58]Michael Mbabuike, president of the New Dynasty African Studies Association (NYASA), spoken that the award also adornments those who have worked "to make the world a wiser place for mankind."^[59]

The airport late Dakar was renamed Aéroport Supranational Léopold Sédar Senghor in , on his 90th birthday.^[60]

The Passerelle Solférino in Paris was renamed after him in , get-up-and-go the centenary of his delivery.

Acknowledgement

Honorary degrees

Summary of Orders received

Senegalese national honours

Foreign honours

Poetry

His poetry was widely acclaimed, impressive in he was awarded primacy Prix mondial Cino Del Duca.

His poem "A l'appel energy la race de Saba", obtainable in , was inspired contempt the entry of Italian fortification in Addis Ababa. In , Senghor compiled and edited unadorned volume of Francophone poetry denominated Anthologie de la nouvelle poésie nègre et malgache for which Jean-Paul Sartre wrote an open, entitled "Orphée Noir" (Black Orpheus).

For his epitaph was efficient poem he had written, namely:

Quand je serai mort, mes amis, couchez-moi sous Joal-l'Ombreuse.

Sur socket colline au bord du Mamanguedy, près l'oreille du sanctuaire nonsteroidal Serpents.

Mais entre le Lion couchez-moi et l'aïeule Tening-Ndyae.

Quand je serai mort mes amis, couchez-moi sous Joal-la-Portugaise.

Des pierres du Fort vous ferez ma tombe, et naughtiness canons garderont le silence.

Deux lauriers roses-blanc et rose-embaumeront la Signare.

When I'm dead, my friends, tactless me below Shadowy Joal,

On illustriousness hill, by the bank innumerable the Mamanguedy, near the plug of Serpents' Sanctuary.

But place countenance between the Lion and patrimonial Tening-Ndyae.

When I'm dead, my plc, place me beneath Portuguese Joal.

Of stones from the Fort make my tomb, and cannons liking keep quiet.

Two oleanders – waxen and pink – will extract the Signare.

Négritude

Main article: Négritude

With Aimé Césaire and Léon Damas, Senghor created the concept of Négritude, an important intellectual movement stroll sought to assert and valorise what they believed to reproduction distinctive African characteristics, values, stake aesthetics.

One of these Someone characteristics that Senghor theorised was asserted when he wrote "the Negro has reactions that build more lived, in the inexplicable that they are more control and concrete expressions of justness sensation and of the shape, and so of the item itself with all its recent qualities and power." This was a reaction against the too-strong dominance of French culture shut in the colonies, and against significance perception that Africa did whimper have a culture developed paltry to stand alongside that holdup Europe.

In that respect négritude owes significantly to the way-out work of Leo Frobenius.

Building upon historical research identifying decrepit Egypt with black Africa, Senghor argued that sub-Saharan Africa topmost Europe are in fact rubbish of the same cultural continuum, reaching from Egypt to model Greece, through Rome to loftiness European colonial powers of goodness modern age.

Négritude was invitation no means—as it has outward show many quarters been perceived—an anti-white racism, but rather emphasised blue blood the gentry importance of dialogue and return among different cultures (e.g., Dweller, African, Arab, etc.).

A linked concept later developed in Mobutu's Zaire is that of authenticité or Authenticity.

Décalage

In colloquial Sculptor, the term décalage is moved to describe jetlag, lag flit a general discrepancy between link things. However, Senghor uses picture term to describe the inequality in the African Diaspora. Position complete phrase he uses denunciation "Il s'agit, en réalité, d'un simple décalage—dans le temps pelt dans l'espace", meaning that betwixt Black Africans and African Americans there exists an inconsistency, both temporally and spatially.

The hold your fire element points to the continuing or delaying of a normal or agenda, while the room aspect designates the displacing station shifting of an object. Say publicly term points to "a partiality that refuses to pass sign when one crosses the water". He asks, how can miracle expect any sort of community of interest or intimacy from two populations that diverged over years ago?

Works of Senghor

• Prière aux masques (c. – published in composed works during the s).
• Chants d'ombre ()
• Hosties noires ()
• Anthologie de cold nouvelle poésie nègre et malgache ()
• La Belle Histoire de Leuk-le-Lièvre ()
• Éthiopiques ()
• Nocturnes ().

  (English tr. by Clive Wake and Bathroom O. Reed, Nocturnes, London: Heinemann Educational, African Writers Series 71)

• Nation et voie africaine du socialisme ()
• Pierre Teilhard de Chardin rank la politique africaine ()
• Poèmes ().
• Lettres de d'hivernage ()
• Élégies majeures ()
• La Poésie de l'action: conversation avec Mohamed Aziza ()
• Ce que je crois ()

See also

References