Jeannette Délali Ahonsou from Togo is a highly respected writer from Togo. An author of a number of striking, imaginative works, she was born in Lavie in 1954.
She was educated at neighbouring country, Benin where she bagged an English
Degree from the University of Benin (now University of Lomé). Thereafter she was a teacher and academic, working on various works. She writes in French essentially and put her country on the map.
Her novels are fecund, with fine characterisations presenting convincing slices of life and situations. The English speaking world might not be too familiar with her books, but she has carved a niche for herself as a talented African wordsmith.
Le Trophee de Cristal was published in 2005. "The heroine of the novel has found her soul and the love of her life after crossing the desert. It is a novel that invites to struggle, to pray and hope.”
Le Piège à Conviction (2013) was also a success. "In this novel the author discusses various topics from the power of money to the power of love. The author speaks of wickedness, infidelity, lies ...”
Un Tunnel sans Bout (2015) is her most recent creative work. In sum, Ahonsou has published four remarkable books, her earliest work thrusting her into the literary limelight.
This was the celebrated Une Longue Histoire, which earned her the Prix Littéraire France-Togo in 1995.
This cerebral lady writer is deservedly known in many quarters as the "Voice of Togo". How apt!
Bibliography
Ahonsou, Jeannette (1999). Une Longue Histoire. Lomé:
Editions Akpagnon.
(2005). Le Trophee de Cristal (in French). Lomé: Les Editions de
la Rose Bleue.
Ahonsou, Jeannette (1999). Une Longue Histoire. Lomé:
Editions Akpagnon.
(2005). Le Trophee de Cristal (in French). Lomé: Les Editions de
la Rose Bleue.
Le Piège à
Conviction (2013). Lomé: Editions Awoudy.
Un Tunnel
sans Bout (2015). Lomé: Editions Les Continents.
Tres Bien!
ReplyDeleteREMARKABLE, CEREBRAL LADY.
ReplyDeleteThis is a refreshing African woman writer – writing in French of course. I must confess that I hardly knew anything about her before. I wish her major works could be translated into English, then many of us who can only read in English (international language) can benefit from her works, her experience, perspectives etc
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps we should learn French! Over the decades, there’s been many world class African writers writing in French – like Sembene Ousmane, Leopold Senghor, Mongo Beti, Mariama Ba, Camara Laye, Ferdinand Oyono
ReplyDeleteFine, concise profile. We really must learn more about our African writers; and I have never hidden my reverence for female African authors in particular. Obviously this is another of our excellent creative writers who has been on the scene for decades, almost under the radar, perhaps. We thank this blog for this information.
ReplyDeleteAfrica has so many excellent female writers. I guess we'll appreciate translations of these works
ReplyDeleteGood to know that there are so many top-notch female African writers out there, including this lady who has been active for decades
ReplyDeleteLet us continue to celebrate good books, and our African writers
ReplyDelete