In December 1921, René Maran, Guyano-Martinican by birth, won the Goncourt Prize for his novel Batouala. At this time, he was colonial administrator in Oubangui-Chari, centrafrican Republic. This novel which preface reveals, the repressive attitude of the colonial authorities to the African people, contributed to his fame and national legitimacy; consequently writers like Senghor chose him as precursor of the "Negroid state". He resigned in 1926 and therefore devoted his time to literature and journalism, for the recognition of black people's quality in the French society and at the same time defended the idea of a France particularly humanist, with a progressive and assimilating colonial policy. René Maran, laureate of numerous literature prizes (Broquette-Gonin prize from the French academy, Writers prize etc) opened their eyes to some writers like Léon Gontran Damas… and african authors such as Henri Lopez, to a literature which was already politically involved. He died in Paris in 1960, forgotten by everybody.

The documentary forms part of the collection about the great black figures of the Republic: Gaston Monnerville, Félix Eboué, Frantz Fanon, Léon Gontran Damas, etc.



Duration: 53 min

Language: FRENCH

Format: BETA SP PAL

Available versions:
FRENCH