Congolese writer Alain Mbanckou
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- 12 Jun 2023
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Alain Mabanckou, born on February 24, 1966, is a renowned novelist, journalist, poet, and scholar. As a French citizen hailing from the Republic of the Congo, he currently holds the esteemed position of Professor of Literature at UCLA.
Mabanckou has gained recognition for his exceptional works of fiction and non-fiction that delve into the contemporary African experience and the African diaspora in France. He stands among the most prominent and successful writers in the French language, earning a notable reputation as one of the well-known African authors in France. In certain circles in Paris, he is even hailed as the Samuel Beckett of Africa. However, his views have stirred controversy, drawing criticism from some African and diaspora writers for his assertion that Africans bear responsibility for their own misfortunes. Mabanckou challenges the notion that African and Caribbean writers should solely focus on local realities to serve and represent their communities. Instead, he advocates for creating literary works that address broader issues beyond traditional categories such as nation, race, and territory.
Early Life: Alain Mabanckou was born in Congo-Brazzaville in 1966. He spent his childhood in the coastal city of Pointe-Noire and completed his baccalaureate in Letters and Philosophy at Lycée Karl Marx. Following preliminary law studies at The Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville, he received a scholarship to pursue further education in France at the age of 22. By that time, he had already written several manuscripts, primarily collections of poems, which he began publishing three years later.
Career and Writing: After obtaining a post-graduate Diploma in Law from the Université Paris-Dauphine, Mabanckou worked for approximately ten years with the Suez-Lyonnaise des Eaux group. However, his dedication to writing intensified after the publication of his debut novel, "Bleu-Blanc-Rouge" (Blue-White-Red), which earned him the prestigious Grand Prix Littéraire d'Afrique Noire in 1999. Since then, he has consistently published prose and poetry. One of his notable works, "African Psycho" (2003), presents a novel written from the perspective of Gregoire Nakobomayo, a fictional African serial killer.
Mabanckou's most renowned novel is "Verre cassé" (Broken Glass), a satirical tale revolving around a Congolese former teacher and the bar he frequents. This novel has been adapted for the stage on multiple occasions. In 2006, he published "Mémoires de porc-épic" (Memoirs of a Porcupine), which received the prestigious Prix Renaudot in French literature. The book reimagines a folk tale through the lens of magical realism, portraying the psychological journey of Kibandi, a young Congolese man descending into violence. Mabanckou explores the African legend that every human possesses an animal double, some of which can be malevolent. This theme of duality and the power dynamics between twins intertwines with the characters and their doubles in the novel. Narrated by a porcupine, one of these doubles, the story unfolds as he recounts his time spent with Kibandi, his "master," and their involvement in a series of murders within their village. Mabanckou incorporates poignant observations on humanity, exploring the relationship between humans and animals and the potential exploitative nature of ethnographers, while staying true to the traditions of authentic African storytelling and the significance of twinhood.
In 2007, Mabanckou's early poetry collection titled "Tant que les arbres s'enracineront dans la terre" was republished by Points-Seuil. Additionally, he released a biography of James Baldwin called "Lettre à Jimmy" on the 20th anniversary of Baldwin's passing, published by Fayard.
Mabanckou's novel "Black Bazar," published in 2009, presents a darkly comedic narrative set in Jip's, a Parisian Afro-Cuban bar once frequented by the author. The story delves into the lives of characters from various African diasporas residing in France.
Mabanckou's literary works have been translated into 15 languages, including multiple translations into English.
Academic-wise, Mabanckou began teaching Francophone Literature at the University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor in 2002. After spending three years there, he was hired by the University of California Los Angeles in 2006, where he currently holds the position of a full Professor in the French Department. He currently resides in Santa Monica, California. In 2016, he was appointed as a Visiting Professor at the Collège de France, occupying the Chair of Artistic Creation.
Listed below are Mabanckou's novels, along with their respective publication dates and English translations:
- 1998: Bleu-Blanc-Rouge (Présence Africaine). English translation: Blue White Red, translated by Alison Dundy and published by Indiana University Press in 2013.
- 2001: Et Dieu seul sait comment je dors (Présence Africaine).
- 2002: Les Petits-fils nègres de Vercingétorix (Le Serpent à Plumes). English translation: The Negro Grandsons of Vercingetorix, translated by Bill Johnston and published by Indiana University Press in 2019.
- 2003: African Psycho (Le Serpent à Plumes). English translation: African Psycho, translated by Christine Schwartz Hartley, published by Soft Skull in 2007 and Serpent's Tail in 2009.
- 2005: Verre cassé (Seuil). English translation: Broken Glass, translated by Helen Stevenson, published by Serpent's Tail in 2009. 2006: Mémoires de porc-épic (Seuil). English translation: Memoirs of a Porcupine, translated by Helen Stevenson, published by Serpent's Tail in 2011.
- 2009: Black Bazar (Seuil). English translation: Black Bazaar, translated by Sarah Ardizzone, published by Serpent's Tail in 2012. 2010: Demain j'aurai vingt ans (Gallimard). English translation: Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty, translated by Helen Stevenson, published by Serpent's Tail in 2013.
- 2012: Tais-toi et meurs (La Branche). 2013: Lumières de Pointe-Noire (Seuil). English translation: The Lights of Pointe-Noire, translated by Helen Stevenson, published by Serpent's Tail in 2015 and The New Press in 2016.
- 2015: Petit Piment (Seuil). English translation: Black Moses, translated by Helen Stevenson, published by Serpent's Tail in 2017 and The New Press in 2017.
- 2018: Les Cigognes sont immortelles (Seuil). English translation: The Death of Comrade President, translated by Helen Stevenson, published by Serpent's Tail in 2020 and The New Press in 2020.
Mabanckou has also written poetry, and some of his notable collections include:
- 1993: Au jour le jour, published by Maison rhodanienne de poésie.
- 1995: La légende de l'errance, published by Éditions L'Harmattan.
- 1995: L'usure des lendemains, published by Nouvelles du Sud.
- 1997: Les arbres aussi versent des larmes, published by L'Harmattan.
- 1999: Quand le coq annoncera l'aube d'un autre jour, published by L'Harmattan.
- 2007: Tant que les arbres s'enracineront dans la terre, Oeuvre poétique complète, published by Seuil under the "Points" collection.
Mabanckou has also written several essays, some of which include:
- 2007: Lettre à Jimmy (James Baldwin), published by Fayard. English translation: Letter to Jimmy, translated by Sara Meli Ansari, published by Soft Skull in 2014.
- 2009: L'Europe vue d'Afrique, published by Editions Naïve.
- 2011: Ecrivain et Oiseau migrateur, published by Editions André Versailles.
- 2012: Le Sanglot de l'homme noir, published by Fayard. English translation: The Tears of the Black Man, translated by Dominic Thomas in 2018.
- 2015: Lettres noires: des ténèbres à la lumière, published by Fayard/Collège de France.
- 2016: Le monde est mon langage, published by Grasset.
- 2017: Penser et écrire l'Afrique, published by Seuil.
- 2019: Dictionnaire enjoué des cultures africaines (with Abdourahman A. Waberi), published by Fayard.
- 2020: Rumeurs d'Amérique, published by Plon.
Furthermore, Mabanckou has authored illustrated books, including:
- 2000: L'Enterrement de ma mère, published by Kaléidoscope under the "Fiction française" collection.
- 2010: Ma Sœur-Étoile, illustrated by Judith Gueyfier, published by Seuil-Jeunesse.
- 2019: Le Coq solitaire, illustrated by Yuna Troël, published by Seuil-Jeunesse.
Throughout his career, Mabanckou has received numerous awards and recognition for his literary contributions, including:
- Prix de la Société des poètes français in 1995 for "L'usure des lendemains."
- Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire for "Bleu-Blanc-Rouge" in 1999.
- Prix du roman Ouest-France-Etonnants Voyageurs in 2005 for "Verre cassé."
- Prix des cinq continents de la francophonie in 2005 for "Verre cassé."
- Prix RFO du livre in 2005 for "Verre cassé."
- Prix Renaudot in 2006 for "Mémoires de porc-épic."
- Prix de La Rentrée littéraire in 2006 for "Mémoires de porc-épic."
- Prix Aliénor d'Aquitaine in 2006 for "Mémoires de porc-épic."
- Prix Créateurs Sans Frontières in 2007, awarded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for "Mémoires de porc-épic."
- Médaille de citoyen d'honneur de la ville de Saint-Jean-d'Angély (Charente-Maritime, France) in 2004.
- Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur by the decree of the President of the French Republic in 2010.
- Georges Brassens Prize in 2010 for "Demain j'aurai vingt ans."
- Prix Prince Pierre de Monaco in 2013 in the category of Literature.
- Académie Française Prize: Grand Prix de littérature Henri Gal in 2012 for his entire body of work.
- Premio Strega Europeo Finalist in 2015.
- Man Booker International Prize Finalist in 2015.
- Puterbaugh Fellow in 2016, recognized for his entire body of work.
- Man Booker International Prize selection in 2017 for the novel "Black Moses."
- The Guardian ranked "Broken Glass" at #99 in its list of 100 Best Books of the 21st Century.
- In 2021, Mabanckou was elected as a Royal Society of Literature International Writer.
