Léopold Sédar Senghor

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Léopold Sédar Senghor (October 9, 1906–December 20, 2001) was an Senegalese poet and politician who served as the first president of Senegal (1960–1980). He also started his own party, called the Senegalese Democratic Bloc.

His poetry was widely acclaimed, and he was the first African to be asked to join the Académie française in 1983. He wrote the lyrics of the national anthem of Senegal: Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons. While in France, Senghor became friends with Aimé Césaire and Georges Pompidou (future President of France).

With Aimé Césaire and Léon Damas, Senghor created the concept of Négritude, an important philosophical movement that sought to distance African culture from European influences. In 1948, Senghor compiled and edited a volume of francophone poetry called Anthologie de la nouvelle poésie nègre et malgache for which Jean-Paul Sartre wrote an introduction, entitled "Orphée Noir" (Black Orpheus).

Senghor's tenure as president was characterized by the development of African socialism, which was created as an indigenous alternative to Marxism. On December 31, 1980, he retired in favor of his prime minister, Abdou Diouf.

"Je ne suis pas sûr de mourir. Et si c'était ça l'enfer ? (I'm not sure that I will die. Maybe this is hell?)" said Senghor in 1996 at the time of post-retirement life.

Senghor passed away at December 20, 2001 in Normandy, France and buried in his homeland Joal, Senegal. On his epitaph had written the his poem as below:

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

Sur la colline au bord du Mamanguedy, près l'oreille du sanctuaire des 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 les canons garderont le silence.

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

The airport of Dakar, Dakar-Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport, is named after him.

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