Saint-Louis, May 3 (APS) – The writer Louis Camara, Grand Prize of the Head of State for Letters in 1996, published by the editions “L’agneau carnivore” a collection of stories for children entitled “The girl by Mame Coumba Bang [génie protecteur]” from the city of Saint-Louis, APS has learned.
”This publication is both educational and cultural since it aims to encourage young people to read and at the same time, to highlight an essential element of the heritage of the old town, namely the protective genius of the city from Ndar, Mame Coumba Bang,” explained Mr. Camara, during an interview with APS.
A storyteller at heart, he has also published several works of this genre, notably “Le Choix de Lori” (Grand Prize of the President of the Republic for Letters in 1996, republished in 2015) and “Le Tambour d’Orunmila” (The Drum of Orunmila). NEAS 2003).
Most of his writings are inspired by Yoruba myths.
To remain faithful to his trajectory, in this new publication he was inspired by “the river goddess Mame Coumba Bang”, which he “used to write a story”.
For him, “this book can be a good incentive to read for students and good support for teachers”. He says he also does not forget “the other very cultural aspect of Mame Coumba bang, which is a central myth in the intangible heritage of Saint-Louis”.
Like what he does for Yoruba myths, Louis Camara was inspired to write this tale of Mame Coumba Bang, a character in this story.
He explains that “this first attempt of its kind is a bridge between Saint-Louis and the Yoruba country to which he remains faithful”.
“Moreover, while writing,” he noted, “I even drew on a little book by the late Adji Fatou Niang Siga, the guardian of the Saint-Louis tradition to whom he also wants to pay homage in a tale entitled” Saint-Louis and its mythology”.
“To write the tale, I brought together various versions and made a patchwork to create the story,” he added, explaining that “this work is a kind of retrospective on the Saint-Louis area. ”.
The story essentially takes place on the island and on the Langue de Barbarie where the heroine of Guet Ndar comes from, explained the author, noting in this work the ecological problem of the city of Saint-Louis, notably the advance of the sea.
In this 32-page work illustrated by the talented designer Sofia Lô, there is a depiction of the fishermen with one of the characters who happens to be the father of the little girl.
Louis Camara is therefore counting on the support of academy and departmental inspections as well as all readers in the city of Saint-Louis for the wide distribution of the work “La fille de Mame Coumba Bang”.
A presentation ceremony for this new work will be held soon, as will signing sessions at the “L’agneau carnivore” bookstore.
AMD/FKS/AB/ASG
