DIOUF, GALANDOU
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Diouf Galandou (1875-1941) was a Senegalese politician born in Saint-Louis on September 14, 1875. He belonged to one of those ancient families of Saint-Louis slave merchants who could boast of having fought under Faidherbe. He often made much of the services rendered by his parents to the French cause.
He studied first in Saint-Louis at the Ploermel Fréres School, then at a secondary school, and later became a teacher. But he was attracted by trade more than administration, which he soon abandoned. From 1900 to 1934, when he was elected a deputy, he engaged in commerce, but without great success. Diouf’s political life began in 1909 with his election to the General Council. During this time he became the friend of Blaise Diagne who he supported during his candidature for the French Chamber of Deputies in 1914. He fought as a volunteer during the First World War.
Wounded and gassed he returned to Senegal in 1918 and took part, as a lieutenant, in the Diagne Mission for the recruitment of African soldiers, a job which he performed very satisfactorily. With Diagne’s help, he became Mayor of Rufisque from 1917 to 1925. During his mayoralty, he was charged with embezzlement and suspended from office. This led to a misunderstanding between him and Blaise Diagne, and he was not re-elected, although he was subsequently cleared of the charge.
In 1928, with the help of Lamine Gueye, he contested a Parliamentary seat against Diagne with success which prompted him to pursue the struggle with the slogan “everything against Blaise Diagne is ours”. In spite of his break with Lamine Gueye in 1931, during the 1932 elections, his votes remained considerable, and, on Blaise’s death, he easily won the elections of July 29, 1934, and was again re-elected on April 24, 1936. Meanwhile, he was re-elected Mayor of Rufisque (May 5, 1935) and held the post until he died.
Galandou Diouf’s role as a deputy was rather insignificant. One can only cite two far reaching proposals viz: the formation of the French Parliament of a group for the Defence of the interests of French West Africa consisting of 210 deputies, and his struggle to make ex-servicemen French citizens. He enjoyed real popularity among the Africans who were grateful to him for remaining simple and very African. He died in Cannes on August 6, 1941.
A. SECK
