Sorbonne commemorates 70 years of the first Black writers' congress

Sorbonne University is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the first International Congress of Black Writers and Artists, which took place in Paris in September 1956. The historic gathering, held in the Descartes amphitheater, was initiated by Alioune Diop, the founder of the publishing house Présence Africaine.

At the time, the congress brought together approximately sixty intellectuals, writers, and artists from Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, and Madagascar. Notable participants included Aimé Césaire, Frantz Fanon, Léopold Sédar Senghor, and Richard Wright. Often described as a ‘cultural Bandung’ following the 1955 Bandung Conference, the event addressed critical issues regarding colonization, racism, and the definition of Black culture during a period of intense colonial rule and racial segregation.

To honor this intellectual legacy, the university has organized a series of commemorative activities, including a symposium, a photographic exhibition, and the inauguration of a commemorative plaque. The plaque was unveiled on September 18 in the presence of members of Alioune Diop’s family to ensure the historical significance of the congress remains recognized within the institution.