Ousmane Sembène (1923–2007)

The plot—a lengthy strike by railroad workers on the Dakar-Niger railway in the late 1940s against French colonial power—initially struck me as a story I couldn’t work up much interest in. I am extremely pleased to say that I was totally wrong. This may be the best of what I have read of this prolific author, a recounting of personalities, the day-to-day costs of a strike both psychologically and physically. Time and again, Ousmane brilliantly describes the struggle of the strikers’ show more families to eat, the political discussions of the strike leaders…even the behind-the-scenes plotting of the French. It is not a short work and yet I found myself sorry to turn the last page, wanting to know more about the stories of the people and of their lives. Ousmane’s writing is strong and his characterizations—particularly of the many women who play significant roles in the story—are excellent. show less

Allowing himself to be coerced into taking a third wife who is the age of his children, El Hadji cannot consummate the marriage. He has come down with impotence and the book is the story of his resort to everything from traditional beliefs to Western psychiatry to overcome the problem. As a metaphor for Senegal soon after the country won its independence in 1960 (he published Xala in 1973), the story is at times hilarious, at other times heart-breaking. Sembène exposes the veneer of Western show more culture and beliefs among the elite in a work that can be read for both the enjoyment of the plot itself as well as for its deeper understanding of the difficulties besetting the nation. The end, an extraordinary, hallucinogenic scene, reminded me of nothing so much as a tableau by Fellini or Almodovar or Buñuel (forgive me, these directors are not my favorites and I rely more on a general sense of their work than particular films). But for the ending, which I am still struggling to integrate into what preceded it, I think this is one of his better works. show less

3.5 stars

"But now he knew that life was a daily struggle. He learned to loathe the poets and painters who depicted only beauty, who celebrated the glory of spring, forgetting the bitterness of the cold."
This is the debut novel of legendary Senegalese writer and filmmaker Ousmane Sembène. It’s a book that draws from the experiences of its author as docker working in France. A book that’s clearly and unmistakably a socio-political novel.

The story focuses on the Black docker Diaw Falla, show more and his community of mostly West African immigrants living in post-Second world war Marseille, and his literary exploits: he works hard as a docker and secludes himself to work on his book about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, after he’s finished with his book he can’t find a publisher for it, is referred to Ginette Tontisanne, who is already a published writer, who appropriates the whole book and publishes it as her own to great acclaim and wins a prize for it. While confronting her about it Falla gets physically abusive, injures Ginette who dies from her injuries and is soon arrested for murder.

If I give out the premise of the book, it’s not to spoil the book, but the structure of this book is such that it is told at its beginning and Sembène unspools the story to show the conditions that led up to the tragedy while exploring racism and the horrible state Black and Arab immigrants were in, and the terrible state labourers and workers and the marginal were in. Among the social issues it explores is how individuals in the French colonies fought for France during both wars and barely got any recognition nor are they eligible for the benefits their white and native counterparts get. It’s an important book that unfortunately remains relevant to the present situation. show less

Considering that Xala was written in the 1970s, it is a surprisingly frank discussion of male & female societal, marital, & sexual relationships in the days of post-colonial Senegal (which gained independence in 1960). It's a dark satire, a harsh parable that shows the clash between old, traditional African ways and the newer, post-colonial, 'Europeanized' ways. For such a short book, it touches on many themes: sexuality, religion, business, corruption, language, gender roles, societal show more levels & roles, traditions vs. new ideas, questions as to whether or not a former colony is really 'free' from its former occupiers, etc.... Apparently, the book was also made into a movie in the 1970s & the book includes some black & white stills from the movie throughout, giving some nice visuals to the story. I've read very little African literature & am currently working on a 'continental' reading challenge; this novella has given me an interesting peek into an area of the world about which I know very little. 3.5 stars. show less