Leon-Gontran Damas; the ‘Enfant Terrible’ of la Négritude

French Guiana’s poet and politician, Leon-Gontran Damas, was one of les trois pères (the three fathers) of la Négritude, a literary and philosophical movement begun in Paris during the early 1930s, which attacked colonialism and racism and celebrated African traditions and black culture.

Leon Damas was born in Cayenne, French Guiana in 1912 to a middle-class family who claimed a mixture of European, Amerindian and African ancestry. He moved to Martinique and attended a French secondary school where he shared philosophy classes with Aime Cesaire, the future poet, playwright, and politician, in what became the beginning of a long friendship. He moved to France to attend higher education, and attended to the Université de Paris, where he studied law to please his parents, but also took courses in anthropology, literature, oriental languages, history and ethnology. He always displayed a profound fascination for radical politics and went on to work as both a deputy from Guiana in the French National Assembly and for UNESCO as delegate for the Society of African Culture. But his primary vocation was poetry, and while associating himself with the Surrealist movement, he started publishing poems in prestigious French literary journals such as Esprit.
At that time, during the interwar period in Paris, the black students from the French colonies started to organize a cultural movement. In 1932 the West-Indian journal Legitime Defense, created by 3 students from Martinique, Jules Monnerat, Etienne Lero and René Menil, was launched against ‘the capitalist world, bourgeoisie, colonial oppression and racism’. This created the perfect environment in Paris for black intellectualism. Two years later, three other students, Aimé Césaire from Martinique, Léopold Sédar Senghor from Senegal and Leon Damas from French Guiana, launched the journal L’Etudiant Noir (The Black Student), a publication that aimed to break down the nationalistic barriers that had existed among Black students in France. This journal expanded the focus of its predecessor from politics to culture, and is considered for many critics, the beginning of la Négritude movement.

Destinations Unlocked:
Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture tripCentralAmerica
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.CentralAmerica
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.CentralAmerica
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.SouthAmerica
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.SouthAmerica
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.Europe
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.Europe
2. Scotland
Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.Europe
3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.Asia
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.Asia
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.Asia
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great priceAfrica
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!Africa
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.The term Négritude (which most closely means “blackness” in English), gives its name to a movement characterized by opposition to colonialism, the denunciation of Europe‘s lack of humanity, and the rejection of Western domination and ideas. Also important was the acceptance of and pride in being black and a valorization of African history, traditions, and beliefs. Their literary style was realistic and they cherished Marxist ideas. Jean-Paul Sartre analyzed the Négritude movement in an essay called Orphée Noir. In his view, Négritude was an ‘anti-racist racism’ necessary to the final goal of racial unity. The movement was inspired by Harlem Renaissance authors, and also had other artistic influences such as jazz and poets such as Rimbaud, Mallarmé and Baudelaire. Négritude was an intellectual movement of rehabilitation, self-assertion and vindication, of the African and Afro-American cultures.
In the same line, Dama’s poetry, which reflects his commitment to the Négritude movement, talks about racism, the problems of self-identity caused by the French colonial policy of assimilation, and the weaknesses of Western culture and society. The poems from his book Pigments are a good example. But one of the things that made him unique was that he transformed the colonizer’s language into a language of his own, he forgot about what he learnt in French school about verses, meters and metaphors and used musical rhythms, humor, repetition and unorthodox typography, reflecting the spirit of his African roots. His poems were extremely modern for their time, and he soon became a icon of black poetry.
By Laura Vila
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.