Senghor, Léopold Sédar << san GAWR, lay aw PAWLD say DAHR >> (1906-2001), was president of Senegal from 1960 to 1981. He also became famous for his poetry and his writings on politics, culture, and society.
Senghor was born on Oct. 6, 1906, in Joal, near Mbour, Senegal. Senegal was then part of the French colonial federation known as French West Africa. Senghor graduated from the University of Paris in 1931. He was a professor of Latin and of French language and literature in France in the 1930’s and 1940’s. During that time, Senghor and other Black poets in Paris developed Négritude, a philosophy that emphasized Black racial and cultural pride.
Senghor became a representative of Senegal in the French National Assembly in 1946. In 1959, Senghor became one of the principal leaders of the Federation of Mali, a union between Senegal and what is today Mali. The union collapsed in August 1960. Senegal then became an independent nation, with Senghor as president. Senghor helped promote economic progress and political stability in Senegal. His critics charged that he failed to bring about major social reforms and that he maintained too close ties with France, the former colonial ruler. Senghor resigned as president in 1981.
In his writings—which began in the 1930’s—Senghor promoted Black African civilization and opposed more materialistic cultures of the West. He won several poetry awards. In 1983, Senghor became the first Black person to be elected to the French Academy, an organization of scholars and writers. Senghor died on Dec. 20, 2001.
