Status message
In development mode.Error message
El Club de Lectura de Casa África lee "La vida y media"
Sony Labou Tansi has been considered one of the greatest writers of Central Africa despite his short literary career due to his death at 47 years of age.
Poet, novelist and playwright born in Kimwanza (Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1947 and who died at age 47 of AIDS in Brazeville, just four days after the death of his wife due to the same disease. La vie et demie, L'Etat honteux, L'Antepeuple, Les sept solitudes of Lorsa Lopez and Les yeux du volcano are among the best known works of this English teacher who used French as the language for his literature, often denouncing post-colonial dictatorships and corruption.
His political concerns led him to be a congressman, although his criticism on those in power led to retaliations such as preventing him from leaving the country, a permission that was later relaxed so he could go to France to treat his illness. Shortly after he would return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo without a cure to stop the deterioration of his health.
In his novel La vida y media, which Casa África's Reading Club now reads, the writer tells how, after its independence, the fictional and immense country of black Africa, Katamalanasia, is subjected to the most absurd and bloody dictatorship, it is ruled by the Providential Guide, a tyrant whose autocratic streak borders on madness. To get rid of any opposition, he does not hesitate to kill and slaughter Marcial, the rebel leader in a thousand ways, but to his amazement, he carries on talking. Reduced to mush and eaten by members of his family he still goes on living. He continues living and tormenting the Guide-and its successors-along this story which spans several generations in a string of extraordinary adventures that make up this fable, while at the same time it is a cruel satire, a story of science fiction and a book of wisdom, all of it transfiguring history, Africa and the world.
Those interested in taking part in Casa África's Reading Club should send an email to cultura@casafrica.es as places are limited. Once you have received confirmation to be a member of the Reading Club, you will be able to take away a copy of the work together with the guidelines for its reading.
