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Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Verse of VerveAmadou Lamine Sall in New Delhi

Amadou Lamine Sall’s poetry is both politically charged and infused with love. Visiting India on a poetry tour, he recently read his works with three eminent Indian poets, Makarand Paranjape, Sukrita Paul Kumar and Anamika. Hailing from Senegal, his poems deal with a freedom unshackled from political systems. His imagery is sharp, with robust adverbs and precise nouns. Veering towards idealism, his work, however, does not fall into the quixotic. “I will go with you on all the roads that can be walked/ To sow on the bank of suffering the first seedlings/ of FREEDOM,” he writes in “Auroras’ Lovers”.

His work is greatly influenced by Senghor. Léopold Sédar Senghor was a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist who also served as the first president of Senegal (1960–1980). Writing poetry for over 30 years, he says, through a translator, “Senghor taught me patience, humility and respect for my work. He was a man who was completely rooted in his culture, but at the same time occupied with other cultures.”

This interest in the outside and inside spheres has moulded Sall’s views on negritude. He explains, “Negritude to me is the civilisation of all black people. It’s about keeping one’s own culture.” He warns that with globalisation, India should also be careful not to lose its own traditions. He uses negritude in the themes, depth and the physical shape of his poems. His work, thus, while often erotic, is never far from the political. He asserts that poetry can never be done without taking sides. “We cannot talk only of flowers and stars,” he says flashing a wide smile!

Due to Senghor, he believes, many young people are taking to poetry. Sall is the President of the African House for International Poetry. The organisation works for the promotion of African poetry. Conferences with major poets are organised for the benefit of younger ones.

He recounts good naturedly, how bad his early works were. He says, “People often say, the first work is supposed to be the best. I totally disagree!” He goes on to reveal, “Luckily, I have thrown most of it away.”

He feels that he grew as a poet, due to Senghor. In Senegal, his book on Senghor “What he Gave Me”, has just been published. It deals with the last few years of his mentor.

Hailing from a francophone background, this poet is unfamiliar with Indian poets, though he is quick to mention Tagore’s name.

NANDINI NAIR

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