Russian Genius with African Roots

Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837)

The outstanding Russian poet, playwright and novelist whose works greatly influenced the development of Russian literature and culture in general.

Alexander Pushkin began writing when he was very young and won recognition quickly thanks to his poems and prose.

His most famous works are the poems Eugene Onegin, Ruslan and Lyudmila, The Bronze Horseman, drama Boris Godunov, short novels The Queen of Spades, Captain's Daughter, The Moor of Peter the Greatand, last but not least, the tales Tale of Fishermanand Fish, The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights, and The Tale of the Golden Cockerel.

By the way, Eugene Onegin is considered the first Russian novel in verse.

Pushkin is known to have had African roots. His great-grandfather, Abram Gannibal, was an African who was enslaved, but then he was ransomed and presented to Peter the Great. Gannibal became a military engineer and general well-known in Russia. Traditionally, he was considered to have been born in Ethiopia. But there is also an opinion that Pushkin’s roots may be related to the neighborhood of Lake Chad. This exotic story, handed down from generation to generation, was reflected in Pushkin’s works. He was a passionate champion of human rights and freedom for all people.

Today, when we are aware of the importance of cultural diversity, Pushkin’s works have become topical again. He reminds us that genius and talent do not depend on our skin color or origin and that the real power of culture lies in its diversity and ability to unite people of different ethnicities and races.

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