Léopold Sédar Senghor

Senegalese poet, cultural theorist, and first President of Senegal.

Chronology: 1906-10-09 – 2001-12-20

Origins & Early Life

Léopold Sédar Senghor ( song-GOR, French: [leɔpɔl sedaʁ sɑ̃ɡɔʁ], Wolof: Léwopóol Sedaar Seŋoor; 9 October 1906 – 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese politician, cultural theorist and poet who served as the first president of Senegal from 1960 to 1980. Ideologically an African socialist, Senghor was one of the major theoreticians of Négritude. He was a proponent of African culture, black identity, and African empowerment within the framework of French-African ties. He advocated for the extension of full civil and political rights for France's African territories while arguing that French Africans would be better off within a federal French structure than as independent nation-states.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Senghor became the first president of independent Senegal. He fell out with his long-standing associate Mamadou Dia, who was the prime minister of Senegal, arresting him on suspicion of fomenting a coup in 1962 and imprisoning him for 12 years. Following this, Senghor established an authoritarian one-party state where rival political parties were suppressed. In 1976, Senghor permitted opposition parties while retaining an unequal playing field favoring his party. Senghor retired in 1980, handing power to...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Source: Wikipedia