In the prestigious setting of the Museum of Black Civilizations, the Women’s Book Fair offered a striking insight into the twists and turns of identity construction. At the heart of this literary event that has become essential in the Senegalese cultural landscape, two voices of African literature, Ken Bugul and Diary Sow, shared their thoughts on this complex and permanent process that is the quest for oneself.
The panel, orchestrated by Amina Seck, revealed how identity is forged through resistance and resilience. Ken Bugul spoke about his journey marked by the absence of emotional heritage, transforming this initial void into a creative force. For his part, Diary Sow described his struggle against traditional social assignments, illustrating how the refusal of conventions can become fertile ground for an authentic identity.
Marginality, a recurring theme in their testimonies, emerged not as an inevitability but as a paradoxical space of freedom. Sometimes described as “crazy” for daring to defy established norms, these women transformed their exclusion into an opportunity for emancipation. Their stories demonstrate how society often uses the label of madness to discredit those who dare to stray from the established paths.
Exile, whether geographical or internal, has emerged as a powerful catalyst in the quest for identity. The speakers highlighted how uprooting, despite its challenges, can become fertile ground for self-reconstruction. Faced with multiple discriminations – as women, as Africans – they have developed a resilience which nourishes their creativity and their commitment.
Literature emerges as an essential vector of this quest for identity. The journey of Ken Bugul, whose work “The Crazy Baobab” earned him an honorary doctorate, illustrates how writing can transform a personal experience into a universal heritage. This academic recognition testifies to the scope of a work that transcends cultural and generational boundaries.
This intergenerational dialogue highlighted a fundamental truth: the quest for identity is never complete. It continues through the ages, experiences, encounters, in a process of permanent deconstruction and reconstruction. The discussions at this Salon demonstrated that this quest, although deeply personal, resonates collectively, weaving invisible links between generations of women who dare to reinvent their destiny.
