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Polemics and poetry
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Senegalese poet Amadou Lamine Sall is in India for the first time on a poetry reading tour. He writes about the man in love and also about the man in revolt
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Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
LIFE BREATH Amadou Lamine Sall: ‘Poetry is my refuge because the world is so cruel’
Senegalese poet Amadou Lamine Sall knew that he was going to write poetry when he was in the womb of his poet-mother, Binga. “There was a poetic environment at home. I also had a school teacher who encouraged me to write poetry.” But the
Francophone poet states that there are no influences in his poetry. “If you are influenced by others, you can never become your own self.”
As a contemporary post-colonial poet he says, “There is a strong oral tradition of poetry in most post-colonial nations, it is never in the written form.” He is also proud to say: “It was the poets who struggled and brought independence to Senegal, not the politicians.” Poet and intellectual Leopold Sedar Senghor who coined the term ‘negritude’ became the first President of Senegal from 1960 to 1980. Says Amadou: “He is my father, guardian and mentor. He has given me a great deal. When Senghor spent 10 years in prison, I had written a book about him.”
Amadou Lamine Sall is in India for the first time and is on a poetry reading tour organised by Alliance Francaise, to bring together regional poets in joint poetry reading sessions. “The response of the audience so far has been good. The atmosphere in India is very conducive for poetry and I have found that they appreciate and love poetry.”
“I write about life and women — as my mother had a great impact on my life. I denounce injustice and politicians when I write. I write about the man in love and also about the man in revolt.” He has not read the poems of fellow post-colonial and West-Indian poet Derek Walcott. Amadou asks, “Didn’t he win the Nobel Prize for Literature?” He continues matter-of-factly, “I have not read him as others have told me he was not good.” “Most Nobel laureates are not good,” he states with a grin. He adds, “But most of the poets I admire are dead – like Pablo Neruda.”
He feels that writing poetry is more demanding than a novel. “It is very different”, he asserts. “Poets have quit writing poetry because they feel that no one reads poetry. But towards the end of their life, they realise that they have made a mistake.”
“I write poetry the moment I feel useful to people and the world. I write when I am happy.” He reveals, “Poetry is my refuge because the world is so cruel.”
He maintains that like all other countries, the issues of food and education are concerns. “I want us all to live in peace.” He adds, “The pre-occupation for my country is culture. Education is culture.” Amadou is also founder and current president of the African House for International Poetry and works in the Senegalese Ministry for Culture. “We help young poets, organise meetings and get-togethers, workshops, conferences, publishing house, and poetry festivals.” He adds, “We also encourage young poets to get to know India and come to study the country.” “But,African ambassadors are not interested in culture but only in its economy.”
“It’s a dream come true to be in India. Poets have talked about the Dravidian movement and about discrimination based on the complexion of your skin.”
He continues, “India has always been known for her rich mixture of people in her diversity. There should be respect for each community if it wants to be a successful nation. Indians, like Africans, must strive to protect each individual culture and identity, however small the minority may be.
“India is a big and beautiful country but they should be aware of the pros and cons of globalisation. If they don’t want to be and remain Indian, then they won’t have anything to give to the world. This is a country that I’ll definitely come back to.”
AYESHA MATTHAN
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