Question

African voices were initially heard in French around the end of the eighteenth century, in the form of translations of oral fables in travelogues. And there was one philanthropist who published De la littérature des Nègres (On Negro Literature), thus becoming one of the few to signal to French-speaking audience. Mention the name of this writer, and the year that this was published?

Answer 1

Henri Grégoire published 'De la littérature des Nègres' in 1808, highlighting African literature to French-speaking audiences and influencing future literary movements like Négritude.

Step-by-step explanation:

The philanthropist you are referring to is Henri Grégoire, who published 'De la littérature des Nègres' in 1808. Grégoire was one of the early European voices to recognize and advocate for the appreciation of African literature and culture amongst the French-speaking audience. His publication played a part in changing perceptions and was an early influence in the lead-up to the Négritude movement, which itself was inspired by similar developments from the Harlem Renaissance and further established by prominent figures like Léopold Sédar Senghor and Aimé Césaire. The movement pushed against European cultural dominance and sought to celebrate African cultural identity and heritage.