Aime Cesaire

Aime Cesaire has died, at 94. One of first of the "postcolonial" writers, in the theatre he will always be known for A Tempest, his reimagining of Shakespeare as anti-imperialist critique.

Of course neither A Tempest or any other mention of plays gets play in the official AP obit, as run by the NY Times today. For a more comprehensive account, try the Beeb.

Cesaire was also notable for his real-life political activism, representing his native Martinique in the French parliament, serving as mayor of the capital city, and--more recently--getting into tussles with one Monsieur Sarkozy.