L茅opold S茅dar Senghor: Senegal delays auction in France

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, L茅opold S茅dar Senghor retired to northern France with his wife
  • Author, Natasha Booty
  • Role, 大象传媒 News

An auction in France of items belonging to the first Senegalese president has been delayed, as the government in Dakar negotiates to buy them directly.

L茅opold S茅dar Senghor's possessions - including military medals and jewellery - were to be sold in the city of Caen.

The current president of Senegal, Macky Sall, urged the culture minister and the embassy in Paris to hold discussions with the auctioneers.

Senghor led Senegal for 20 years after independence from France in 1960.

He was a distinguished poet who pioneered N茅gritude - an anti-colonialist movement that championed African cultures - alongside Martinican poet Aim茅 Cesair茅 while a student in Paris in the 1930s.

Senghor was politically a socialist. He also maintained close ties to France.

He retired to France with his French wife Colette near Caen, where he died in 2001.

Senghor's belongings have been brought to auction by a private seller who has not been named.

Negotiations will now be held with state officials over the next few weeks, auctioneer Sol猫ne Laine told AFP news agency on Saturday, but if they fail to reach an agreement her firm says an auction will be held in December instead.