CAMARA LAYE

Camara Laye (January 1, 1928—February 4, 1980) was a Guinean writer. He was the author of The African Child (L'Enfant noir), a novel based loosely on his own childhood, and The Radiance of the King (Le Regard du roi). 

Both novels are among the earliest major works in Francophone African literature. Camara Laye later worked for the government of newly independent Guinea, but went into voluntary exile over political issues. Laye died in 1980 in Dakar of a kidney infection

Camara Laye was born in Kouroussa, a town in what was then the colony of French Guinea. His family were Malinke, and he was born into a caste that traditionally worked as blacksmiths and goldsmiths. His mother was from the village of Tindican, and his immediate childhood surroundings were not predominantly influenced by French culture.

He attended both Koranic and French elementary schools in Kouroussa. At age fifteen he went to Conakry, the colonial capital, to continue his education. He attended vocational studies in motor mechanics. In 1947, he travelled to Paris to continue studying mechanics. There he worked and took further courses in engineering and worked towards the baccalauret.

Camara Laye published his first novel in 1953, the autobiographical L'Enfant noir (The African Child, also published under the title The Dark Child). It follows his own journey from childhood in Kouroussa, his education in Conakry, and eventual departure for France. The book won the Prix Charles Veillon in 1954. L'Enfant noir was followed the next year by Le Regard du roi (The Radiance of the King). 

In 1956 Camara Laye returned to Africa, first to Dahomey, then the Gold Coast, and finally to newly independent Guinea, where he held several government posts. He left Guinea for Senegal in 1965 because of political issues, never returning to his home country. In 1966 Camara Laye's third novel, Dramouss (A Dream of Africa), was published. In 1978 his fourth and final work, Le Maître de la parole - Kouma Lafôlô Kouma (The Guardian of the Word), was published. (Information here essentially from Wikipedia)

Studies:

Camara Laye by Sonia Lee

The writings of Camara Laye by Adele King

Rereading Camara Laye by Adele King

The novels of Camara Laye : a study of selected themes by Richard
Cysle McCullough 

The function of characters in four works by Camara Laye by Paul R Bernard

Tradition and modernity in the fiction of Laye Camara by Alain David Fresco

The snake and the lion : spiritual and political commitment in the
works of Camara Laye by Brenda J Bertrand

Ideological development in the writings of Camara Laye by Sebagenzi wa Lulenga