Léopold Sédar Senghor

Léopold Sédar Senghor (9 October 1906 – 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist. He was the first president of Senegal (1960–80). He was part of the Négritude movement. Some people called him an African socialist, but many Senegalese socialists thought he was not really socialist because he was supported by France and put communists in Senegal in jail. He also started the Senegalese Democratic Bloc party.

Senghor was the first African allowed to join the Académie française. Many people think he is one of the most important intellectuals from Africa during the 20th century.

References

Other websites

 Biography and guide to collected works: African Studies Centre, Leiden
 Histoire des Signares de Gorée du 17ie au 19ie siécle. Poèmes de Léopold Sédar Senghor
 Biographie par l'Assemblée nationale
 Biographie par l'Academie française 
 President Dia by William Mbaye (2012, english version) - Youtube - Political documentary - 1957 to 1963 in Senegal (55')  
 Sangonet
 Préface par Léopold Sédar Senghor à l'ouvrage collectif sur Le Nouvel Ordre Économique Mondiale édité par Hans Köchler (1980) (facsimilé)

Category:1906 births
Category:2001 deaths
Category:Presidents of Senegal
Category:Senegalese writers
Category:African poets