The Fortunes of Wangrin

Posted on 23 November 2017 by Amadou Hampâté Bâ

The Fortunes of WangrinAmadou Hamp t B Translated by Aina Pavolini Taylor with an Introduction by F Abiola IreleWinner of the Grand Prix Litteraire de l Afrique Noire I think this is perhaps the best African novel on colonialism and it draws very richly on various modes of oral literature Ralph Austen, University of Chicago It is a wonderful introduction to colonial rule as experienced by Africans, and in particular, to the rule of African middlemen Martin A Klein, University of Toronto The Fortunes of Wangrin is not only a wonderful novel by one of Africa s most renowned intellectuals, it is also literally filled with information about French colonization and its impact on traditional African societies, African resistance and collaboration to colonization, the impact of French education in Africa, and a host of other subjects of interest Francois Manchuelle, New York UniversityWangrin is a rogue and an operator, hustling both the colonial French and his own people He is funny, outrageous, corrupt, traditional, and memorable Ba s book bridges the chasm between oral and written literature The stories about Wangrin are drawn from oral sources, but in the hands of this gifted writer these materials become transformed through the power of artistic imagination and license.The Fortunes of Wangrin is a classic in Franchophone African literature.Amadou Hampate Ba was a distinguished Malian poet and scholar of African oral tradition and precolonial history.Aina Pavolini Taylor is an independent translator with wide experience of Africa, now living and working in Italy.F Abiola Irele is a professor in the Department of Black Studies at Ohio State University. Read The Fortunes of Wangrin – kino-fada.fr The Fortunes of Wangrin is my book from Mali for the Read The World challenge.It s a novel or at least it seems to be universally described as a novel, despite the fact that Hampat B says in the Afterword I don t know why, even is spite of the specific assertions contained in the Foreword, some people continue to ask themselves whether this narrative is fiction, reality, or a clever mixture of both I ll repeat once , then, for anyone who might still be in doubt, that I heard everything The Fortunes of Wangrin is my book from Mali for the Read The World challenge.It s a novel or at least it seems to be universally described as a novel, despite the fa...And this is what happens when a person is aggressive in the face of Destiny doing battle, fighting the good fight Such a man was Wangrin To those who would say that it doesn t matter since all of us are condemned to the same ending, I would counter that endings and beginnings don t matter, rather it s everything in between it s the legacy left in the hearts and lives of those we encounter Wangrin touched and improved hundreds of lives in his journey through Elias Khoury s tunnel between two And this is what happens when a person is aggressive in the face of Dest...I m writing this review with my eyes full of tears because during the time I spent reading this book, I got attached to Wangrin and his world The story of Wangrin is truly a beautiful story which is at the same time educational, intriguing, funny, and sad, and the author does a great job introducing the reader to the world, and developing the characters while staying very entertaining I can t count how many times I cracked up at some of stunts Wangrin was able to pull off This is by far one I m writing this review with my eyes full of tears because during the time I spent reading this book, I got attached to Wangrin and his world...I love Hamp t B s writing style, particularly when he makes it clear to his readers that he is telling his story for their benefit by interrupting the narration to insert an important piece of information In this novel, the reader follows Wangrin through his life as he manipulates his way into powerful positions Often, Wangrin comes across as a very selfish, self centered man who will stop at nothing to obtain money and power If the reader only reads the story and skips the forward and I love Hamp t B s writing style, particularly when he makes it clear to his readers that he is telling his story for their benefit by interrupting the narration to insert an important piece of information In this novel, the reader follows Wangrin through his life as he manipulates his way into powerful positions Often, Wangrin comes across as a very selfish, self centered man who will stop at nothing to obtain money and power If the reader only reads the story and skips the forward and afterward, he ...This is an entertaining and fast moving tale of a colonial West African translator who uses his charm, political skills, guile and everything else at his disposal most importantly, money and a good education to work the system to his advantage It beautifully and convincingly conveys the textures of spiritual and cultural life in Africa under colonialism, where political and cultural arrangements overlap and influence each other, making a strange but dynamic social enviro...A fascinating true story told to B by Wangrin himself, this story is an interesting tale about a protagonist that is not necessarily a likeable character Pay attention to the particular details about how writing and orality becomes both his path to glory and his downfall.One of the best stories I have read coming out of West Africa Wangrin, an enterprising young man in Afrique Occidentale Francaise learns how to work the system, to his benefit and to the benefit of those around him Much thanks to Dr Naino at the LCBC for the recommendation.One of Ba s finest works, a fun read tooLa storia di un self made man che sfrutta la propria intelligenza per farsi strada nella societ maliana e quella coloniale per il proprio interesse e la propria riccheza Un guascone divertente e avido, generoso quando serve, ma in pace con il modo, acerrimo nemico di chi osa mettergli i bastoni fra le ruote, ma anche infantile nei desideri fino all arroganza, manipolatore legato alle tradizioni e a ogni religione sottomano.Un p...L histoire et le parcours de Wangrin en soit sont admirables et passionnants Seulement ce qui m a d rang c est le fait qu il y ait eu beaucoup trop de d tails superflus et le reportage de tous les loges n tait pas vraiment n cessaire Cependant a reste un livre que j ai beaucoup aim et dont je...

English
23 November 2017

Amadou Hampâté Bâ