MFL Society: Spotlight on La Négritude

October 3rd 2025

This week’s MFL Society meeting drew a full house for a fascinating student-led talk on the origins and cultural legacy of the Négritude movement. One of our A level linguists delivered a thought-provoking presentation that traced how Négritude emerged in 1930s Paris as a powerful literary and political response by Francophone Black intellectuals to colonialism and questions of racial identity. The movement celebrated Black culture and heritage through art and language, shaping ideas that still resonate today.

A highlight of the talk was the focus on Jamaican-born British artist Ronald Moody, who moved to Paris in 1938 and became closely connected with the Négritude circle. His career thrived amid this vibrant cultural exchange, but the German invasion of France forced him to flee just two days before the city fell, leaving behind much of his work.

The speaker’s depth of knowledge and passion brought the topic vividly to life, giving the audience fresh insight into how language and identity intertwine across history. It was an inspiring reminder of how multilingualism opens the door to diverse cultural narratives. We look forward to more of these insightful student-led sessions in the weeks ahead.

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