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Guinea (Conakry) / All works

Novel

Les Épines de l'amour

Not translated into English

Koumanthio Zeinab Diallo · 1997

Synopsis

In Fouta Djallon, Alphadio Bah, prince of Koïn, is smitten with the beauty of Ramatoulaye Diallo, of Labé, and asks for her hand. The young woman's father refuses outright, because of an affront done to him by the suitor's father. The two young people understand that this hatred is born of the power struggles within the theocratic Fouta, and decide to defend their love.

Context

The book, the author's first novel, appeared in 1997 in Paris from L'Harmattan, in the Encres noires series. She said she wrote it to show the traditional society of Fouta Djallon, where little is said about passionate love between men and women. She had until then been known for her poetry, notably a collection in Pular published in 1996, and would later publish tales and plays.

Who it is for

For discovering traditional Fula society in Guinea through a story of passion, written in French.

Prizes and reception

The author received a first prize for poetry in Pular, then the prize of the President of the Republic of Guinea for a collection.

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