Literary genealogy and the laws of courtesy

Be well! Be well!

[26/01/2024] Full moon in Leo. Reminiscence Festival x Archives Ivoire. During my performance 'Ils Sont Parmi Nous' ('They are Among Us'), which was inspired by 'Souffles,' a poem written by Senegalese poet Birago Diop and published in Leurres et Lueurs (1960), I assembled an altar of gratitude. This offering, this prayer, was intended for African writer-ancestors who breathed eternal life into our stories and whose work continues to inspire us to this day.

“The Mayans teach us that the laws of courtesy apply to the etheric plane as much as among human beings. Greetings, farewell, gifts, praise, acknowledgement and, primarily, thanks for creation are very helpful.” — Stewart Pearce, The Alchemy of Voice, “Foreword”, pg. 10

To the following writers and many more who have gone before me,
I pour a thin thread of freshwater onto the nutrient rich Red Earth and
I burn a braid of sweetgrass.

I give you a calabash full of fresh millet drink,
some new yams smeared with palm nut oil,
respect
and gratitude.

Nawal El Saadawi, Ousmane Sembène, Buchi Emecheta, Sobonfu Somé, Chinua Achebe, Es'kia Mphahlele, Bessie Head, Birago Diop, Simone Kaya, Ahmadou Kourouma, Camara Laye, Caroline Angèle Yao, René Maran, Wangari Maathai, Amadou Hampâté Bâ, Bernard Dadié, Malidoma Somé, Binyavanga Wainaina, Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo, Yambo Ouologuem, José Craveirinha, Dambudzo Marechera, Rajat Neogy, Okot p'Bitek, Tayeb Salih, Amos Tutuola, Noemia De Sousa, Ama Ata Aidoo, Albert Cossery …

Be well!

I wish I had brought to you a basket of juicy oranges,
round, small, textured, sweet, sour, yellow
Like Alice Walker did for Langston Hughes¹.

Yet,
it is never late nor too late
for our multiple lifetimes bear witness
so

To the following writers and many more who are still walking this Earth,
walking on clearer pathways,
weaving stories about humanity and beyond,
I will continue to give you your flowers and offerings
in this lifetime.

Maryse Condé², Werewere Liking, Rogo Koffi Fiangor, Veronique Tadjo, Ayi Kwei Armah, Tanella Boni, Tiburce Koffi, Felwine Sarr, Scholastique Mukasonga, Léonora Miano, Ben Okri, Lola Shoneyin, Taiye Selasi, Upile Chisala, Warsan Shire, Akwaeke Emezi, Mia Couto, Achille Mbembe, Calixthe Beyala, Alain Mabanckou, Gauz, Paulina Chiziane, Hirondina Joshua, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Yaa Gyasi, David Diop, Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, Minna Salami, Aminata Aidara, Lebogang Mashile …

Be well!

[22/01/2024] I took this portrait of Ivorian philosopher, poet and writer Tanella Boni after a conversation she and I had for Litar Foundation. Amongst many gems, she shared her life philosophy rooted on caring. Caring for the Self, caring for the Earth, caring for our more-than-human families, caring for Life.

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Note: For a longer (but non-exhaustive) list of African writers, visit KOKOBA’s resource sheet.

1. In one of her essays published in ‘In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens’ (1983), Alice Walker speaks about African American writers who have inspired her and without whom she could not have been a “whole woman, a full human, a black woman full of self-awareness and pride”. Langston Hughes was one of these writers. “One of the best acts of my entire life was to take a sack of oranges to Langston Hughes when he had the flu, about two weeks before he died.” — Alice Walker, In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, “Duties of the Black Revolutionary Artist”, pg. 135.

2. The gigantic Maryse Condé passed away on April 2nd 2024. My friend Amandine Nana, shared the news with me as we prepared to enter the Banco forest for a morning walk. Like Tituba, we entered the forest to commune with nature’s spirit and at the end of our walk, we poured libation for Maryse Condé, thanked her for being a gift and guide in our life and that her legacy will on.