Aime Cesaire

Aime Cesaire is considered perhaps the best known French Caribbean poet. Cesaire was born in Basse Pointe,  on the French Caribbean island of Martinique on June 26, 1913. In 1931, he left Martinique for France to study at the Lycee Louis-le-Grand, where he met fellow Senegalese student Leopold Sedar Senghor, with whom he co-founded the negritude movement.


              Aime Cesaire

Cesaire was also a playwright and statesman. He was involved in electoral politics in Martinique. Aime Cesaire was awarded numerous literary prizes, including the Grand Prix National for poetry. Among his works is the well-known Cahier d'un retour au pays natal (Notebook of a return to the native land).

Throughout this month, some of his poems will be featured, in English with the French translation.  If you have read or studied Cesaire, please share your reflections on his work.