Leopold Senghor

Leopold Senghor

Information about Leopold Senghor's life

Born on October 9, 1906, in Joal Fadiout, Senegal. Birthed the concept of Negritude, a social revolution throughout the world of black pride. He studied in Paris, France at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand and École Normale Supérieure of the University of Paris, one of the most prestigious universities in France. After his schooling in the 1930s, he used his literary talents to further push the Negritude movement by demanding change for equality and freedom from French colonialism. Senghor, a talented writer, used his poetry to discuss racial issues and his experience with racism in France. Because of his writing skills and speeches, he became a great politician and one of the senegalese delegates in French parliament. Further into his political career, in 1958, Senghor became the first president of the legislative assembly in the Mali Federation, and in the 1960s, president of Senegal after it broke away from the federation.

Abby Moschel

Robert F. Gorman

1906 to 1960s

Lila Elrod, Keona Dordor

English

Francophone Africa, Senegal