Stamp honour for black author

Writer Aimé Césaire joins ranks of two former presidents as two million stamps issued to mark his death.

Published Friday 17 February 2017 - 11:19 Modified Friday 17 February 2017 - 11:19

WRITER and philosopher Aimé Césaire will appear on two million stamps issued to commemorate the first anniversary of his death.

Only former presidents Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterrand have been honoured in such a way so soon after their deaths.

Césaire coined the term négritude in 1935 to define a cultural movement that fought against the assimilation ideals of French colonialism.

The movement sought to redefine black culture in the French-speaking world in a positive manner, countering racist stereotypes.

Césaire died on April 17, 2008 in Paris and was given a state funeral on April 20.