The Puerto Rican Literature Project

Francisco Negroni Mattei was born in 1896 in Yauco, Puerto Rico and died in his hometown in 1937. He was a poet, journalist, and optician. Considered a pioneer of Afropuertorican poetry and influenced by the work of Afro-Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén, Negroni Mattei introduced African music and dance themes into his work. He published his work in magazines and newspapers. His work includes “Balada doliente” (1918), “Brindis galante” (1918), “Paisaje de media noche” (1920), “La muerte de Polichinela” (1920), and “Aguafuerte” (1920).

Works Cited

García, Xosé Lois. “Las diversas relaciones entre la poesía afro-antillana de expresión española y la poesía africana.” Rebelión, 15 April 2007, https://rebelion.org/las-diversas-relaciones-entre-la-poesia-afro-antillana-de-expresion-espanola-y-la-poesia-africana/. 

Morales, Jorge Luis. Poesía afroantillana y negrista. Editorial Universitaria, Río Piedras, 1976.

Ribera Chevremont, Evaristo y José S. Alegría. Antología de poetas jóvenes de Puerto Rico. Real Hermanos Tips., 1918.

Torres Rivera, Enrique. Parnaso portorriqueño. Casa Editorial Maucci, Barcelona, 1920.