David Mandessi Diop (9 July 1927 – 29 August 1960)
was a
French West African poet known for his contribution to the
Négritude
''Négritude'' (from French "Nègre" and "-itude" to denote a condition that can be translated as "Blackness") is a framework of critique and literary theory, developed mainly by francophone intellectuals, writers, and politicians of the African ...
literary movement.
His work reflects his anti-colonial stance.
Biography
Diop started writing poems while he was still in school, and his poems started appearing in ''
Présence Africaine
''Présence Africaine'' is a pan-African quarterly cultural, political, and literary magazine, published in Paris, France, and founded by Alioune Diop in 1947. In 1949, ''Présence Africaine'' expanded to include a publishing house and a bookstore ...
'' since he was just 15. Diop lived his life transitioning constantly between France and West Africa, from childhood onwards. While in Paris, Diop became a prominent figure in Négritude literature. His work is seen as a condemnation of colonialism, and detest towards colonial rule. Like many Négritude authors of the time, Diop hoped for an independent Africa. Within the movement he was recognized as "the voice of the people without voice".
He died in the crash of
Air France Flight 343
Air France Flight 343 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Paris, France, to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, with scheduled stopovers at Dakar, Senegal and Monrovia, Liberia. On 29 August 1960, around 06:50, the aircraft crashed into th ...
in the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
off
Dakar
Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from :wo:daqaar, daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar ...
,
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
, at the age of 33 on 29 August 1960.
/ref> His one small collection of poetry, ''Coups de pilon'', came out from Présence Africaine in 1956; it was posthumously published in English as ''Hammer Blows'', translated and edited by Simon Mondo and Frank Jones (African Writers Series
The African Writers Series (AWS) is a collection of books written by African novelists, poets and politicians. Published by Heinemann, 359 books appeared in the series between 1962 and 2003.
The series has provided an international audience fo ...
, 1975).
See also
* The Renegade (poem)
External links
La vie d'un Sénégalais illustre David Diop (in French)
References
*
1927 births
1960 deaths
Senegalese poets
20th-century poets
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Africa
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1960
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