French 130: Introduction to Sub-Saharan African Short Stories

Instructor: Alain Mabanckou

This course is an approach to French-speaking, black African literature through short fictions. While this genre is developed in the English-speaking world, few French-speaking writers focus on short stories. Emmanuel Dongala’s Jazz et vin de palme, which the course will focus on, is a rich and dense collection. He describes a postcolonial painting of African societies, in particular the Congolese society, but he also opens up to the United States of America. We will also explore Jacques Chevrier’s Anthologie Africaine, which gives us a wider view of African writers. Finally, we will hear the voices of certain African writers, such as Veronique Tadjo, through sound recordings. Taught in French.