Fily Dabo Sissoko
Encyclopedia
Fily Dabo Sissoko was a Mali
an author and political leader, born 15 May 1900 at Horokoto (French Soudan, now in Mali
's Bafoulabé Cercle
). He died 30 June 1964, imprisoned at Kidal. Fily Dabo Sissoko is chiefly remembered as one of the most influential political leaders of pre-independence Mali, primary conservative rival to Mali's first President Modibo Keita
, and an influential writer of the Negritude
movement.
ethnicity and he was the son of a local traditional ruler, Dabo Sissoko received his primary education at nearby Bafoulabé
, before winning a place at the elite École normale supérieure William Ponty
in Gorée
(Senegal
).
He was a teacher at the Bafoulabé Regional school until he succeeded his father and became "chef de canton" of Niambia
in 1933. Sissoko took part in French politics, supporting the Front populaire
government on the 1930s and the Resistance during the Second World War. He received the Médaille de la Résistance
after the war.
group and he was re-elected in the June and November elections of 1946. After the November 1946 election, he joined the SFIO group.
Dabo Sissoko was re-elected to that seat in 1951 and 1956. He was briefly French Under Secretary of State for Industry And Commerce, a Ministerial position in the second government of Robert Schuman
(5 to 11 November 1948).
With Hamadoun Dicko
, another former canton chief, Fily Dabo Sissoko founded in December 1945 the Parti progressiste soudanais
(PSP). This was a conservative party led by African traditional rulers (including Sissoko), African officials of the French colonial administration, and the French government. The party sought gradual independence from France to preserve the influence of traditional elites. In 1957, in regional elections, the PSP was dealt its first major electoral defeat at the hands of the Union soudanaise-Rassemblement démocratique africain
(US/RDA) of Modibo Keïta
. Until the fusion of the parties on the eve of independence in 1959, Fily Dabo Sissoko vigorously opposed the socialist political program of Modibo Keïta. Unsurprisingly, following Mali's 1960 independence, Modibo Keïta became leader. Following riots in 1962 by some business interests opposing the creation of the Malian franc
(independent of the CFA Franc
used by other former colonies), Dabo Sissoko was arrested and charged with sedition. Condemned to death after being found guilty an 'attempt to destabilize the state', Dabo Sissoko had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Imprisoned near Kidal he died under still controversial and unclear circumstances in 1964.
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
an author and political leader, born 15 May 1900 at Horokoto (French Soudan, now in Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
's Bafoulabé Cercle
Bafoulabé Cercle
Bafoulabé Cercle is a second level administrative subdivision of the Kayes Region in western Mali. Its capital is the commune of Bafoulabé.The Cercle contains the following Rural and Urban Communes:*Bafoulabé *Bamafele *Diakon...
). He died 30 June 1964, imprisoned at Kidal. Fily Dabo Sissoko is chiefly remembered as one of the most influential political leaders of pre-independence Mali, primary conservative rival to Mali's first President Modibo Keita
Modibo Keïta
Modibo Keita ; was the first President of Mali and the Prime Minister of the Mali Federation. He espoused a form of African socialism.-Youth:...
, and an influential writer of the Negritude
Négritude
Négritude is a literary and ideological movement, developed by francophone black intellectuals, writers, and politiciansin France in the 1930s by a group that included the future Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor, Martinican poet Aimé Césaire, and the Guianan Léon Damas.The Négritude...
movement.
Early life
Sissoko was of KhassonkéKhassonké
The Khassonké are an ethnic group of Mali's Kayes Region. Descendants of the Fula and Malinké Khasso kingdoms, they speak the Khassonke/Xaasongaxango language, a Manding language similar to Bambara....
ethnicity and he was the son of a local traditional ruler, Dabo Sissoko received his primary education at nearby Bafoulabé
Bafoulabé
Bafoulabé is a town and commune in south-western Mali. It is located in the Region of Kayes. Bafoulabé is the capital of the Cercle of Bafoulabé, which in 1887 was the first Cercle to be created in Mali.-Local administration:...
, before winning a place at the elite École normale supérieure William Ponty
École normale supérieure William Ponty
École William Ponty was a government teachers' college in what is now Senegal. The school is now in Kolda, Senegal, where it is currently known as École de formation d’instituteurs William Ponty. It is associated with the French university IUFM at Livry-Gargan.-Notable alumni:Many of the school's...
in Gorée
Gorée
Île de Gorée Île de Gorée Île de Gorée (i.e. "Gorée Island"; is one of the 19 communes d'arrondissement (i.e. "commune of arrondissement") of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is a island located at sea from the main harbor of Dakar ....
(Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
).
He was a teacher at the Bafoulabé Regional school until he succeeded his father and became "chef de canton" of Niambia
Niambia
Niambia is a small town and commune in the Cercle of Bafoulabé in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 4338.-External links:*...
in 1933. Sissoko took part in French politics, supporting the Front populaire
Popular Front (France)
The Popular Front was an alliance of left-wing movements, including the French Communist Party , the French Section of the Workers' International and the Radical and Socialist Party, during the interwar period...
government on the 1930s and the Resistance during the Second World War. He received the Médaille de la Résistance
Médaille de la Résistance
The French Médaille de la Résistance was awarded by General Charles de Gaulle "to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18,...
after the war.
Political career
In October 1945 he was elected deputy to the French Constitutional Assembly representing the Soudan-Niger non-citizen constituency. He was a member of the Republican and Resistance Union (URR). Sissoko was elected in a run-off, with 45.8% (1,277) of the vote. In the Constituent Assembly he joined the communistFrench Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
group and he was re-elected in the June and November elections of 1946. After the November 1946 election, he joined the SFIO group.
Dabo Sissoko was re-elected to that seat in 1951 and 1956. He was briefly French Under Secretary of State for Industry And Commerce, a Ministerial position in the second government of Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman was a noted Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist...
(5 to 11 November 1948).
With Hamadoun Dicko
Hamadoun Dicko
Hamadoun Dicko was a Malian politician who was elected to the French National Assembly in 1951 .- references :...
, another former canton chief, Fily Dabo Sissoko founded in December 1945 the Parti progressiste soudanais
Progressive Sudanese Party
Progressive Sudanese Party was a political party in French Soudan . The party was led by Fily Dabo Sissoko. Politically it represented a conservative traditionalist position, and drew support from traditional chiefs. It was founded in December 1945 by Sissoko, son of a canton chief, and Hamadoun...
(PSP). This was a conservative party led by African traditional rulers (including Sissoko), African officials of the French colonial administration, and the French government. The party sought gradual independence from France to preserve the influence of traditional elites. In 1957, in regional elections, the PSP was dealt its first major electoral defeat at the hands of the Union soudanaise-Rassemblement démocratique africain
Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally
The Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally is a Malian political party.The party was formed in 1945 by Mamdou Konaté and Modibo Keita, with the name Sudanese Bloc...
(US/RDA) of Modibo Keïta
Modibo Keïta
Modibo Keita ; was the first President of Mali and the Prime Minister of the Mali Federation. He espoused a form of African socialism.-Youth:...
. Until the fusion of the parties on the eve of independence in 1959, Fily Dabo Sissoko vigorously opposed the socialist political program of Modibo Keïta. Unsurprisingly, following Mali's 1960 independence, Modibo Keïta became leader. Following riots in 1962 by some business interests opposing the creation of the Malian franc
Malian franc
The franc was the independent currency of Mali between 1962 and 1984. Although technically subdivided into 100 centimes, no subdivisions were issued.-History:...
(independent of the CFA Franc
CFA franc
The CFA franc is the name of two currencies used in Africa which are guaranteed by the French treasury. The two CFA franc currencies are the West African CFA franc and the Central African CFA franc...
used by other former colonies), Dabo Sissoko was arrested and charged with sedition. Condemned to death after being found guilty an 'attempt to destabilize the state', Dabo Sissoko had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Imprisoned near Kidal he died under still controversial and unclear circumstances in 1964.
Writer
Parallel to his political career, Dabo Sissoko became a well known poet, essayist, and popular author. Associated with the Negritude movement, Dabo Sissoko helped form a Malian cultural identity, drawing from a range of ethnicities and oral literary traditions.Further reading
- Sébastien Denjean, Fily Dabo Sissoko, Mémoire de DEA, Centre d'études d'Afrique noire, 1994.
- Singare Salamatou Maïga, A la découverte de l'oeuvre littéraire de Fily Dabo Sissoko: thématique et poétique, Thèse de doctorat, Université de Cergy Pontoise, 1999, 418 p.
- Mamadou Lamine Diawara, Fily-Dabo Sissoko ou la malédiction de Saara Minyamba, Nouvelles Du Sud, 2000.