Léopold Sédar Senghor was a Senegalese poet, writer, politician and first President of the Republic of Senegal (1960-1980). He is the first African to sit at the French Academy. His poetry is essentially symbolist, based on the chanting of the incantatory word and which earned him the nickname of « President-Poet » is built on the hope […]
Simon Kibangu was a symbol of Congolese nationalism and a figure of the African resistance and struggle against colonial oppression. He is known as Ntumua ya Nzambi’a Mpungu, Kikongo translation of ‘Envoy of Almighty God’. Although Kimbangu’s preaching has no stated political content, he nevertheless predicts the liberation of the black man on a spiritual […]
Sojourner Truth was a first-rate activist, speaker and educator in the struggle of African-Americans for the abolition of slavery and for the civil rights. Resolutely non-sectarian, she establishes a nexus between the women’s rights issues, the abolition of slavery and religious freedom. She became a strong advocate of the abolitionist cause and a staunch advocate […]
A central figure in Togolese political life who led the country towards independence, Sylvanus Olympio was, in many respects, a major player in the African independence. The first President of independent Togo, he was a a seasoned activist for African emancipation. Sylvanus Olimpio was assassinated in the first coup d’état in sub-Saharan Africa in 1963 […]
Economist and politician, Sylvie Kinigi is Burundi’s Prime Minister from July 1993 to February 1994. After the death of President Melchior Ndadaye who was killed during a coup d’état in October 1993, Sylvie Kinigi was invited to form a interim government from 27 October 1993 to 5 February 1994, and became the first and to […]
Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabe military, pan-Africanist politician, he embodied and led the Burkinabè revolution from 4 August 1983 till his assassination On 15 October 1987 during the coup d’état led by Blaise Compaoré. The latter is chased away by a popular uprising. His government undertakes major reforms to fight corruption and improve […]
Born François Dominique Toussaint, Toussaint Louverture is the greatest leader of the Haitian revolution. He is known to have been the first black leader to have defeated the forces of a European colonial empire in his own country. Born a slave, having distinguished himself in arms and having led a victorious struggle for the freedom […]
Usain St. Leo Bolt is a Jamaican athlete, sprint specialist, six times Olympic champion and eight-time world champion, holder of three records of the world: 100 m (9 s 58), 200 m (19 s 19) and 4 × 100 m (36 s 84). He is the first athlete who has managed to keep his Olympic […]
Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu (born 18 May 1912 in Engcobo and died 5 May 2003) is a South African politician, ANC activist and anti-apartheid fighter. A former Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC), friend and Nelson Mandela’s companion, he remained committed throughout his life to the struggle for a multiracial democracy. Imprisoned for […]
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois dubbed « W. E. B. Du Bois », is a sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, pan-African activist, editorialist and American writer. After graduating from Harvard University, where he was the first African-American to earn a PhD, he became a professor of history, sociology and economics at Clark Atlanta University. Du Bois was […]
