THE FRENCH REVIEW, MAI 2007
THIAM, BATHIE NGOYE. Nouvelles fantastiques sénégalaises.
Paris. L’harmattan, 2005.
ISBN : 2-7475-8664-2. Pp. 175. 16 €
This is a collection of twelve tales, the first six of which are recounted through the eyes of the author in a modern African world : the cultural context, however, belongs to the old one full of mystery, metamorphoses and other supernatural events. The tales are separate and individual, although some continue from one to another following a main character. Such is the case with Ndiogou, the hybrid of a djinn and a “rab”, who is “un esprit qui peut se présenter sous des formes animales ou humaines” (170), and who haunts his village at night. Ndiogou possesses superhuman strength and eventually kills the spirit which had haunted the soul of his mother. This liberation from supernatural spell brings her eternal peace. The reader will also encounter such beings as “deumes”, who are “des gens à l’apparence normale, mais qui sont dotés de pouvoirs surnaturels […] ils peuvent être nos voisins, nos collègues de bureau ou que sais-je encore »(50). However,
« Quand un « deume » vous regarde, il voit l’intérieur de votre corps, vos organes et tout, d’où cet « œil long ». Mais, il ne fait pas que regarder. Il vous dévore à votre insu. Comment ? Là, on a l’embarras du choix. D’aucuns disent qu’il dévore votre âme, d’autres soutiennent qu’il grignote vos viscères, et d’autres encore affirment qu’il mange votre chair et vous remplit d’air, au fur et à mesure. » (51)
Fortunately, there are individuals such as Kor Ndiaya who protect those who fear the “deumes” by selling them a “grigri” for a mere one hundred francs.
In another entertaining tale, “La Vraie Deume”, a mother refuse to allow her son to marry Aïda who belongs to an inferior caste : “C’est même mieux d’épouser une Blanche de France ou une Peule du Niger qu’une femme de cette caste.” (73). The story ends tragically and the tables turn against the mother. Then there is the delightful “L’Ame soeur” in which Charles-Edouard Bourciez, a child of an interracial marriage, goes to Dakar, prepared with both a cell phone and condoms, and encounters a beautiful woman whom he pursues ; the phone plays an intriguing part in this story, not unlike those of Edgar Allen Poe. Other stories have a strong moral message such as in “L’arriviste” and “Le village des deumes”, the latter also presenting great depth and commentary on social injustices. The reader is also amusingly introduced to spirits called “moldes” who communicate by e-mail and in certain situations “où nul ne voulait céder, chaque “molde” s’amenait avec ses “sous-moldes”. C’était comme des milliers d’ordinateurs affichant le même programme. Il fallait alors trouver le serveur et modifier son disque dur. » (151)
This collection of twelve entertaining and amusing tales from Senegal will enchant readers of all ages and could be easily integrated into intermediate language courses with a literary component. The language is clear, concrete, and rich with African references for the elucidation of our students and ourselves.
Metropolitan State College of Denver (CO)
Alain D. Ranwez
THE FRENCH REVIEW, MAI 2007
THIAM, BATHIE NGOYE. Nouvelles fantastiques sénégalaises.
Paris. L’harmattan, 2005.
ISBN : 2-7475-8664-2. Pp. 175. 16 €
This is a collection of twelve tales, the first six of which are recounted through the eyes of the author in a modern African world : the cultural context, however, belongs to the old one full of mystery, metamorphoses and other supernatural events. The tales are separate and individual, although some continue from one to another following a main character. Such is the case with Ndiogou, the hybrid of a djinn and a “rab”, who is “un esprit qui peut se présenter sous des formes animales ou humaines” (170), and who haunts his village at night. Ndiogou possesses superhuman strength and eventually kills the spirit which had haunted the soul of his mother. This liberation from supernatural spell brings her eternal peace. The reader will also encounter such beings as “deumes”, who are “des gens à l’apparence normale, mais qui sont dotés de pouvoirs surnaturels […] ils peuvent être nos voisins, nos collègues de bureau ou que sais-je encore »(50). However,
« Quand un « deume » vous regarde, il voit l’intérieur de votre corps, vos organes et tout, d’où cet « œil long ». Mais, il ne fait pas que regarder. Il vous dévore à votre insu. Comment ? Là, on a l’embarras du choix. D’aucuns disent qu’il dévore votre âme, d’autres soutiennent qu’il grignote vos viscères, et d’autres encore affirment qu’il mange votre chair et vous remplit d’air, au fur et à mesure. » (51)
Fortunately, there are individuals such as Kor Ndiaya who protect those who fear the “deumes” by selling them a “grigri” for a mere one hundred francs.
In another entertaining tale, “La Vraie Deume”, a mother refuse to allow her son to marry Aïda who belongs to an inferior caste : “C’est même mieux d’épouser une Blanche de France ou une Peule du Niger qu’une femme de cette caste.” (73). The story ends tragically and the tables turn against the mother. Then there is the delightful “L’Ame soeur” in which Charles-Edouard Bourciez, a child of an interracial marriage, goes to Dakar, prepared with both a cell phone and condoms, and encounters a beautiful woman whom he pursues ; the phone plays an intriguing part in this story, not unlike those of Edgar Allen Poe. Other stories have a strong moral message such as in “L’arriviste” and “Le village des deumes”, the latter also presenting great depth and commentary on social injustices. The reader is also amusingly introduced to spirits called “moldes” who communicate by e-mail and in certain situations “où nul ne voulait céder, chaque “molde” s’amenait avec ses “sous-moldes”. C’était comme des milliers d’ordinateurs affichant le même programme. Il fallait alors trouver le serveur et modifier son disque dur. » (151)
This collection of twelve entertaining and amusing tales from Senegal will enchant readers of all ages and could be easily integrated into intermediate language courses with a literary component. The language is clear, concrete, and rich with African references for the elucidation of our students and ourselves.
Metropolitan State College of Denver (CO)
Alain D. Ranwez