United Nations Radio

Caribbean-born poet Aimé Césaire (photo) was remembered for his commitment to his art and to fighting colonialism and racism.

The head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) paid tribute to Mr. Césaire who died on Thursday.

UNESCO director-general Koïchiro Matsuura said the organization "has lost one of its most valuable friends." And he praised Mr. Césaire for dedicating his life to poetry and politics, noting that he had been "an untiring opponent of colonialism and racism" since the 1930s.

Born in Martinique, Mr. Césaire, 94, was honoured throughout the French-speaking world.

He was a champion of "negritude" or pride in being black. His poetry and plays include an adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest.'

For UN Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.

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