Biography
Paul Hazoumé (1890-1980) was a Beninese poet, writer, politician, educato and ethnologist,. He was born on 15 April 1890, in Abomey, in what was then the French colony of Dahomey (now known as Benin). He was part of the Fon ethnic group, descended from the Porto Novo kingdom's nobility, with his grandfather being a prime minister. He studied at the Ecole William Ponty in Senegal and in the early years of his life, he worked as a teacher and later became an administrator in the colonial government. He was an advocate for the rights of the African population and was involved in several political movements that sought to improve the lives of the people in Dahomey.Hazoumé is best known for his historical and political writings. His most famous work is "The Black and White in Africa," which examines the relationship between the European colonial powers and the African people. The book was published in 1939 and is still considered a seminal work in African history. He was also an accomplished poet, and he wrote several works in both French and Fon. His poetry often explored themes related to African identity, culture, and history.
In addition to his writing and political work, Hazoumé held the title of "Ouando," which was a position of great importance in the Fon culture. Paul Hazoumé passed away on April 18 1980 , but his contributions to Beninese and African culture and history continue to be celebrated today.