Ousmane Sembène: The Making of a Militant Artist

Biographical Landmarks

153 Biographical Landmarks Biography of Ousmane Sembène 1645 1790 1812 Saër Sembène, Ousmane's paternal grandfather , settles in Mboth, the current site of Dakar Plateau. 1814 1857 Landmark Events The Portuguese take possession of the area where Ziguinchor is currently located. The Lebus, Ousmane Sembène's ethnic group, a community of fishermen who came from the Fuuta by way of the Kingdom of Kayor, create the Republic of Cap Vert. Under the leadership of Dial Diop, the Lebus wrest their freedom from the despotic Damel Amari Ngoné Coumba and proclaim the independence of the peninsula. A treaty signed on May 14 seals France's acquisition of Gorée Island. On May 25, annexation of Dakar by France, after a successful naval raid on the city launched from the Jeanne d'Arc. 154 biographical landmarks 1886 1889 1902 1917 1918 1920 1923 On January 1st, Ousmane Sembène is born in Ziguinchor. Death of Lat-Dior, king of Kayor and last major figure of armed resistance against France. "Pacification" of the entire country, with the exception of Casamance. France's acquisition of Casamance, through a treaty signed with Portugal. The Joola rebellion against the French colonial authority. Intensification of peanut farming in Casamance. Birth of Lamine Senghor—Léopold Sédar Sen­ ghor's cousin. Injured during World War I, he settles in Paris and eventually sets up the Defense Committee of the Negro Race. Drawn to Marxism, in 1927 he takes part, in Brussels, in the creation of the League Against Imperialism and Colonial Oppression and is elected to the steering committee. Arrested in 1929, he dies in prison. Dakar becomes the capital of French West Africa (AOF), replacing Saint-Louis. Appointment of Senegalese representative Blaise Diagne as General Commissioner of African troops. The Joola resistance compels Governor Richard Brunot to contrive a "pacification " plan for Casamance that ends in a bloodbath. On March 5–6, a visit to Ziguinchor by Blaise Diagne, during a recruiting tour. He is copiously insulted and a young Joola girl slaps him in the face. Birth of Aliin Sitooye Jaata, the "queen of Kabrousse." Issuance of a decree outlawing "cannibalism " in French West Africa. 155 biographical landmarks 1927 1928 1931 Enters primary school at Ecole Escale in Ziguinchor. 1938 Enters 5th grade, with Jean Kandé as teacher, but he is expelled after an altercation with his superintendent, Paul Péraldi. Starts fishing with his father, Moussa. Is "transferred" to Dakar. Settles in Plateau, at 45 Rue de Thiong and repeats 5th grade at Ecole de la Rue de Thiong. Sees a screening of The Gods of the Stadium, a documentary movie on the 1936 Munich Olympic Games by Leni Riefenstahl. 1939 Works in Dakar as construction helper for his paternal uncle Baye Wélé Sembène, senior construction worker. 1940 September 23–25: Sembène witnesses the air raid on Dakar by the Allied Forces. The Lebu settlements in the Plateau are the most affected. Joins the Layène brotherhood. Execution of freedom fighters in Ziguinchor , at the behest of colonial administrator Maubert, allegedly for "cannibalism." Birth in Oussouye of Abbé Diamacoune Senghor. September 1: beginning of WWII. October 15: Open letter by Black representative Galandou Diouf, published in ParisDakar , exhorting Black fighters to take up arms against Germany. May: start of the German occupation of France. June 18: De Gaulle's resounding call to resistance from the BBC in London. Night raid on Marseilles by Mussolini's forces. July 13: Arrival in Dakar of Vichy-appointed governor Pierre Boisson. September 25: fierce resistance by the Vichy troops impels the Allied Forces to withdraw. Organization by Aliin Sitooye Jaata of the first Joola rebellion against French colonial authorities. 156 biographical landmarks 1941 Takes part, as a construction helper, in the building of the Van Vollenhoven high school, under the supervision of Boubacar Diouf "Rafet," senior construction worker at the Pinet Laprade Vocational School. 1942 1943 1944 On February 1st, Sembène is drafted into the French army. He receives basic training , as Private 689, at Camp Militaire des Mamelles (Dakar military base). In April, leaves for Niger with the Sixth Colonial Infantry Regiment. 1945 1946 Completes compulsory 18-month military service. Returns to Dakar. Joins the union of construction workers and, for the first time, is involved in militant activities. Shows first signs of a budding political consciousness. Breaks with the Layène religious brotherhood and regularly attends...