Tiemoko Garan Kouyaté
Encyclopedia
Tiemoko Garan Kouyaté was a West African
labour organiser and propagandist.
Born April 27, 1902 in Ségou
in the French Sudan
, Kouyaté studied at École William Ponty
on the Île de Gorée
in Senegal
. He worked as a school teacher in the Ivory Coast from 1921 to 1923. He then travelled to Aix-en-Provence
for further education, but was expelled in 1926 for spreading communist
propaganda
. In 1927, he helped found the communist Ligue de défense de la race nègre, editing their paper La Race nègre. When that group split, he helped create the Union des travailleurs nègres and ran a new paper Le Cri des Nègres. When Kouyaté was thrown out by the group's hardline communists, and purged from the French Communist Party
, he began to work with Messali Hadj
's Algeria
n independence group, Etoile Nord-Africaine
. Even during Communist period, Kouyaté communicated with non-communist black activists such as Marcus Garvey
and W. E. B. Du Bois, and collaborated regularly with George Padmore
.
He was executed by Nazis at Fort Montluçon
in 1942.
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
labour organiser and propagandist.
Born April 27, 1902 in Ségou
Ségou
Ségou is a city in south-central Mali, lying northeast of Bamako on the River Niger, in the region of Ségou. It was founded by the Bozo people, on a site about from the present town...
in the French Sudan
French Sudan
French Sudan was a colony in French West Africa that had two separate periods of existence, first from 1890 to 1899, then from 1920 to 1960, when the territory became the independent nation of Mali.-Colonial establishment:...
, Kouyaté studied at École 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...
on the Île de 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 ....
in 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 worked as a school teacher in the Ivory Coast from 1921 to 1923. He then travelled to Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
for further education, but was expelled in 1926 for spreading communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
. In 1927, he helped found the communist Ligue de défense de la race nègre, editing their paper La Race nègre. When that group split, he helped create the Union des travailleurs nègres and ran a new paper Le Cri des Nègres. When Kouyaté was thrown out by the group's hardline communists, and purged from the French Communist Party
French 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...
, he began to work with Messali Hadj
Messali Hadj
Ahmed Ben Messali Hadj was an Algerian nationalist politician dedicated to the independence of his homeland from France...
's Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n independence group, Etoile Nord-Africaine
Étoile Nord-Africaine
The Étoile Nord-Africaine or ENA was an early Algerian nationalist organization founded in 1926. It was dissolved first in 1929, then reorganised in 1933 but was later finally dissolved in 1937...
. Even during Communist period, Kouyaté communicated with non-communist black activists such as Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH was a Jamaican publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League...
and W. E. B. Du Bois, and collaborated regularly with George Padmore
George Padmore
George Padmore , born Malcolm Ivan Meredith Nurse, was a Trinidadian communist who became a leading Pan-Africanist in his later years.-Early years:...
.
He was executed by Nazis at Fort Montluçon
Montluçon
Montluçon is a commune in central France. It is the largest commune in the Allier department, although the department's préfecture is located in the smaller town of Moulins. Its inhabitants are known as Montluçonnais...
in 1942.