The Suns of Independence
An absolute masterpiece of French-language African literature, The Suns of Independence traces the tragic fate of Fama, a dispossessed Malinke prince in post-colonial Africa. Ahmadou Kourouma creates a unique French language infused with Malinke to depict with biting irony the lost illusions of African independence — a work clearly inspired by Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea.
A founding novel, translated into more than twenty languages, it remains essential reading for anyone interested in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and the history of contemporary West Africa.
Ahmadou Kourouma (1927–2003) is the most celebrated Ivorian writer. Born in Boundiali, he spent much of his life between Abidjan and France, leaving behind a major body of work that transformed African literature.