Public Lecture: Camarade Papa & Co. Works That Relegate Colonization to the Museum; Speaker: Abdoulaye Imorou

Abstract:

The discourse surrounding Africa, and more broadly the ‘Black world’, often centers on the colonial yoke and the ways colonization and related systems ­– slavery, imperialism, segregation… – have shaped and continue to shape Black lives. This presentation highlights fictional works that relegate colonization to the museum, offering a shift in perspective. It draws on six examples: Camarade Papa by Gauz, Je suis quelqu’un by Aminata Aidara, Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor, Black Tea by Abderrahmane Sissako, the ‘Chef Goes Nanners’ episode of South Park, and If Makola Street Could Talk, a Ghanaian adaptation of Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. These works, rather than focusing on how colonization continues to shape Black lives, invite us to think and exist beyond the colonial framework, effectively archiving colonization in the museum.

Abdoulaye Imorou is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of French at the University of Ghana. He earned his PhD in Francophone Literature from the University of Cergy-Pontoise in France in 2009. From 2013 to 2016, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the French Section at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. He is also a fellow of the2020-2024 cohort of the Pilot African Postgraduate Academy (PAPA). Abdoulaye Imorou’s research focuses on developing a global approach to African Francophone literature, structured around three main areas: 1. Expanding theLiterary Canon: He challenges the traditional African literary canon by including often-overlooked texts such as thosefrom pop culture, AI-generated literature, and even Facebook posts.. 2. Exploring New Trends in Literary Criticism: Abdoulaye Imorou advocates for moving beyond established literary theories, criticisms, and methods, promotinginnovative approaches to African literature. This includes applying Pierre Bayard’s interventionist criticism to African texts. 3. Literary Representations of Africa’s Place in the World: He examines how expanding the literary canon and adopting new critical approaches enable a more nuanced understanding of Africa’s role and place in the global context.

This lecture is open to the public.

For virtual participation via Zoom, please use the following link:

https://uni-freiburg.zoom-x.de/j/69131932708?pwd=569uNUu5NKna3iqjiWzalcc5skGusX.1

Meeting-ID: 691 3193 2708
Passcode: U7j0KEbbK