WHAT IS NEGRITUDE? BY ABIOLA IRELE.

A SUMMARY BY NWANI UCHENNA WILLLIAMS

        Although, the term negritude embodies a multiplicity and wide range of idea and definitions. The French speaking blacks have put up many writings and many definitions of negritude to represent an extensive exploration of the black conditions in both its historical setting and direction towards an ultimate significance. Here, it is used in a broad and general sense to denote the black world in its historical being in opposition to the whites and in this way resumes the total consciousness of the belonging to the black race as well as an awareness of the objective historical and sociological implications of the fact.

         Aime Cesaire, in his long poem ‘Cahier d’un retour au pays natal,’ saw negritude as the recognition of the fact of being black, and the acceptance of this fact of our culture, our history as black people.

     Furthermore, he noted that the socialism practiced in Africa is a ‘synthesis of western socialism.’ Still He upheld and advocated for the practice of Marxism.

        According to Senghar Senghor, Africans seems to be very much attached to a god. Virtually all their art work has a connection with one god or the other. He said: “Africans is naturally religious in whom the sense of being sacred is naturally alive.

      He thus, believes that Marxism is a theory that needs to be completed in the light of new development to suit the African situation.