Bernard Binlin Dadié

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Bernard Binlin Dadié (or sometimes Bernard Dadie) (born 1916 near Abidjan) is a prolific Ivorian novelist, playwright, poet, and ex-administrator. Among many other senior positions, starting in 1957, he held the post of Minister of Culture in the government of Côte d'Ivoire from 1977 to 1986.

He worked for the French government in Dakar, Senegal, but on returning to his homeland in 1947, became part of its movement for independence. Before Côte d'Ivoire's independence in 1960, he was detained for sixteen months for taking part in demonstrations which opposed the French colonial government.

In his writing, influenced by his experiences of colonialism as a child, Dadié attempts to connect the messages of traditional African folktales with the contemporary world. His humanism and desire for the equality and independence of Africans and their culture is also prevalent.

[edit] Partial list of Works

  • Légendes africaines (1954)
  • Carnets de prison (1981) - details his time in prison

Famous for his work I Thank You, God

"I thank you God for creating me black, For making of me Porter of all sorrows, Setting on my head The world. I wear the Centaur's hide And I have carried the world since the first morning.

White is a colour for special occasions Black the colour for every day And I have carried the World since the first evening.

I am glad Of the shape of my head Made to carry the World, Content With the shape of my nose That must snuff every wind of the World Pleased With the shape of my legs Ready to run all the heats of the World.

I thank you God for creating me black For making of me Porter of all sorrows..

Still I am Glad to carry the World, Glad of my short arms Of my long arms Of the thickness of my lips..

I thank you God for creating me black White is a colour for special occasions Black the colour for every day And i have carried the World since the dawn of time And my laugh over the World, through the night, creates the Day.

I thank you, God for creating me black


[edit] External links

[edit] References

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