Leopold Sedar

Leopold Sedar Senghor (9 October 1906 20 December 2001) Leopold Sedar Senghor was born in Joal,Afrique Occidentale Francaise(French West Africa now Republic of Senegal), to a Serer (third largest ethnic group in Senegal) Father and Roman Catholic m separate. In 1928 Senghor traveled to Paris to continue his studies on a partial scholarship. He became the source opaque African to become anagrege, the top qualification for a teacher in the French education system, and became a professor of African languages and civilization at theEcole Nationale de la France dOutre-Mer.When Senegal achieved independence in 1960, Senghor was elected its first president. He retired from the presidency on 31 December 1960. Senghor retired to France, became the first black African member of the French Academy in 1984, and published his memoir,(That Which I Believe Negritude, Frenchness, and general Civilization) in 1988. He died at Verson, France, on 20 December 2001. Philosophy Leopold Sedar Senghor b elieves that every African shares certain distinctive and innate characteristics, places and aesthetics.Negritude is the active rooting of an Black individuation in this unavoidable and natural African essence. (The major premise of Negritude is therefore that ones biological make-up (race) defines ones outer (skin color) as strong as inner (spirit/essence) traits. It is a concept which holds that there is a share nuance and subjectivity and spiritual essence among members of the same racial group. sort of of rejecting the (colonialist) theory that race defines ones being Negritude rejects the assumption that the African is inherently inferior to the white man.To Senghor, this makes Negritude a weapon against colonialism and an pecker of liberation. To Senghor, the African essence is externalized in a distinctive culture and philosophy. This claim is supported by Senghors assertion that Negritude the rooting of identity in ones natural essence is diametrically hostile to the traditional philosophy of Europe (the colonizer). To Senghor, European philosophy is essentially static, documentary It is founded on separation and opposition on analysis and conflict.In contrast, African philosophy is based on unity, balance, negotiation and an appreciation of social movement and rhythm. Senghors idea of Negritude posits an essence for blacks who are intuitive, sensual, and creative. In other words, he argues that blacks have a unique essence, with out which the civilization of the Universal would be incomplete. (This is reminiscent of Du Bois belief that Blacks have a particular value to add to world history). This essence, according to Senghor, is opposite from the white essence, which is based in reason and objectivity.