David Mandessi Diop: Nationalist despite his Premature Death

A Research Paper Presented to Mrs. Aurea F. Estuita Dasmarias National High School

In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Subject English IV

By

Shanielene May E. Moralita Jerlyn T. Morido Catherine Blante IV- Helium October 18, 2010

Introduction

David Diop was one of the most promising French West African Young Poets. Diops work reflects his hatred of colonial ruler and his hope for an independent Africa. Most of his works were destroyed with him in a plane crashed; only the 22 poems that were published before his death remain. Diop was one of the most anti- colonial and prevolutionary members of the group.

Diop was born in Bordeaux, France to African parents. His Father was Senegalese and his mother Cameroonian. He received his primary education in Senegal and Cameroon and his secondary education in France. He returned to Africa in 1947 and become a teacher in Senegal. He was a member of the Negritude Movement that sought to make Africans aware and proud of their cultural heritage and to encourage the French African colonies to become independent nations.

We are interested in Africa, of how they live as an Africa and what cultural tradition they have. In this research, the writers discussed the nationalism of David Mandessi Diop.

Africa is the worlds second largest and second most-popular continent after Asia. In the late nineteenth century, the European imperial powers engaged in a major territorial scramble and occupied most of the continent creating many colonial territories and leaving only two fully independent states Ethiopia and Liberia. Independence movements in Africa gained momentum following World War II which left the major European powers weakened.

David Diop: Nationalist despite his Premature Death

I. David Diops birth A. born in Bordeaux, France to African parents II. People in his life A. His wife B. His father who is Senegalese C. His mother who is Cameroonian III. Group that he joined A. Negritude movement IV. Cause of his death A. Plane crash V. His work after his death A. some of his 22 poems had left after the plane crash

Acknowledgment

First of all, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to God for the knowledge he gave to us to be able to make this research successful. Hes the one who gave us strength to continue doing this research. Also to our beloved parents who supports us, gives us money to buy some materials we need in this research and especially guiding us in our studies.

We would like to thank also our English IV teacher Mrs. Estuita because she teaches us how to do a research paper step by step and she didnt force us to pass this research paper immediately.

We would like to thank also ourselves because of the time and effort we contribute just to make it and we saw the way we are unified.

And most of all, were very thankful for this kind of worth or activity, because of this, it gives us the opportunity to expand our knowledge and to integrate new information with what we already know.

BODY

David Mandessi Diop ( 1927- 1960 ) is a highly regarded west African poet whose fame as an African nationalist lives on despite his premature death. Hes one of the most promising French West African Young Poets. Diops work reflects his hatred of colonial ruler and his hope for an independent Africa.

David Diop was born in Bordeaux, France to African parents. It is a port city on the Garonne river in south west France. France of a Senegalese father and a Cameroonian mother. He was born July 9, 1927. He was born of respectable parents and had received a primary school education in Senegal and Cameroon and his secondary education in France. When he returned to Africa in 1947 at the age of 20 and became a teacher in Senegal.

When he totally grew up, he met a pretty young girl named Virginia Kamara and later on they fell in love with each other and they were married. They lived happily for a short period of time because unfortunately they died together in a plane crash.

His father who is Senegalese died when the time that he is only in a primary education. Only his mother still raised him in living. Even though its hard for a son to lose his father, David Diop didnt lose hope to live continuous.

His mother is a Cameroonian. After his father had died, he was raised by his mother. Even though its hard for a mother to care and guide his son by herself, she still tried to care and guide his son all by herself.

In Paris, David Diop joined the negritude literary movement, which championed and celebrated the uniqueness of black experience and heritage. He has been connected with the negritude school of writing, especially with his themes of the harmful effects of inferiority complex. Diop was one of the most anti- colonial and prerevolutionary members of the group that sought to make Africans aware and proud of their cultural heritage and to encourage the French African colonies to become independent nations.

Like the other negritude writers, Diop attempts o motivate African readers to break their bonds of servitude so they could respond with dignity and pride to their tribal heritage. Thus, his poems emphasize European attitudes of prejudice and discrimination against Africans and extol the beauty of the African continent and its cultural traditions. All these noble ideas are clearly reflected in the poem he wrote entitled The Africa .

When he had reached at the age of 33, he was died in a plane crash together with his wife in Dakar in 1960. It was sad at that time because at that young age, he and his wife died.

There were so many opportunities that David Diop will do if he didnt died at that very young age. Maybe, he will become the most excellent poet writer in Africa.

After he had died in a plane crash with his wife, some of his works were destroyed but there were some 22 poems that have been left and have been published. I think if they didnt died in a plane crash, maybe today, he will make more poems that is related to his life.