Louis Hunkanrin, His Struggle Against Slavery in Mauritania

In this book, the author Milena Rampoldi introduces the brave journalist und human rights activist Louis Hunkanrin from the today’s Benin (Porto-Novo 1887-Porto-Novo 1964). He paid for his commitment to human rights, the dignity and equality of all people during the French colonial rule in French West Africa with years of persecution and imprisonment. About Hunkanrin, Saidou Kane writes the following: « Un intellectuel noir, Louis Hunkanrin, instituteur béninois (dahoméen), exilé en Mauritanie et de tradition politique de gauche, s ‘indigne de cette situation et dénonce l ‘esclavage en Mauritanie avec vigueur, oubliant lui-même sa propre condition de détenu. » The author writes: ‘What impressed me so much about Hunkanrin is precisely this aspect, which Kane also emphasizes so aptly: A man forgets his own situation as a prisoner exiled to the Mauritanian desert to emphasize once again how inhuman and reprehensible the institution of slavery in Mauritania is and makes applications to the French colonial authorities for the liberation of Mauritanian slaves. And he always dares to fight against the injustice and corruption of the colonial administration in French West Africa and to denounce them in his articles, although he knows exactly that this means for him personally imprisonment, exile, ban and oppression.... I believe that texts such as those by Louis Hunkanrin can today contribute significantly to supporting the fight against slavery in Mauritania and giving it new impetus. I think that dialogue and cooperation with Marxism in its aspect of the struggle for justice in this world can also appeal to numerous Muslims.‘