Cesaire, Cesairology, and Universal Humanism

About the Book

Cesaire, Cesairology, and Universal Humanism (in English) Césaire, Césairologie et Humanisme Universel (en français) By Zekeh S. Gbotokuma, Editor/Translator Book Summary This two-part, twelve chapter, and bilingual work (English-French) is the Gospel of Negritude according to the world renowned poet and politician Aimé Césaire of Martinique. The work is also a vivid account of the busy life and works of Césaire according to himself as well as through the eyes and voices of numerous scholars, Cesairologists, politicians, and friends from the global village. In June 2003, these celebrities gathered in Fort-de-France to celebrate Césaire’s 90th birthday. They were signatories of one message, that is, Negritude is a universal humanism and Césaire, is a pan-Africanist, human rights activist, multiculturalist, and “A Thought for the 21st Century” and for the global age. Résumé en français La présente oeuvre est bilingue – français-anglais – et consiste en deux parties contenant douze chapitres. Elle est l’Evangile de la Négritude selon Aimé Césaire, poète et politicien martiniquais de renommée mondiale. Cette oeuvre est aussi l’histoire de la vie et l’oeuvrage de Césaire par lui-même et selon de nombreux chercheurs, césairologistes, politiciens et compagnons du monde entier. Ces célèbres hommes et femmes s’étaient réunis, en juin 2003 à Fort-de-France pour célébrer le 90ème anniversaire de naissance de Césaire. Ils étaient tous signataires d’un seul message, à savoir: la Négritude est un humanisme universel et Césaire est un véritable panafricaniste, activiste pour les droits de l’homme, multiculturaliste et “Une Pensée pour le XXème Siècle” et pour l’ère de la mondialisation. Quotes “Césaire is a man of deep-rootedness and the prototype of dignity.” (C. LAPOUSSINIÈRE, CCER President) “Césaire’s work is a good for the whole humankind.” (French President Jacques CHIRAC) "His[Dr. Gbotokuma´s]studies of universal humananism in the works of Cesaire are among the most thorough and comprehensive I have seen." (Prof. Henry L. Gates, Harvard University) “Césaire continues to be an awe-inspiring figure…” (Henry L. Gates, Harvard University) “Negritude prefigures a true universal civilization.” (Senator Claude LISE of Martinique)

About the Author

Dr. Zekeh Gbotokuma was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He earned a doctoral degree in Philosophy from Gregorian University, a Bachelor degree in Theology from the Pontifical Urban University, a Diploma in International Studies from the Italian Society for the International Organization, all in Rome, Italy. He is multilingual (Lingala, Ngbaka, French, English, Italian, German, Latin, and some Spanish). After twelve years of education and experience in Europe, Dr. Gbotokuma is currently an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Global Studies at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA., and the founding President of Polyglots in Action for Diversity, Inc. His publications include, among others, A PAN-AFRICAN ENCYCLOPEDIA (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2003); DIZIONARIO ITALIANO-LINGALA/LINGALA-ITALIANO(Armando Curcio Publisher, Rome, 1990), and numerous articles written in English, French, and Italian and published in U.S. and European journals, magazines, and conference proceedings. He is the founding editor of COSMOPORT – The Newsletter of the Center for Global Studies at Morgan State University.