France
Foreign Book
Reviews

Nedjo le prétentieux by Amélie Sarn and Bertrand Dubois is a beautifully illustrated African tale about a proud man who learns of authentic wisdom. France has many African immigrants, mainly due to its colonial past, so African culture has become an intrinsic part of French culture and both have learned a lot from each other.

"Nedjo had to complete a tough lifelong journey searching for true wisdom. Readers don’t lose hope, because ' l’incendie dans la poitrine de Nedjo ne s’st jamais eteint,' that is, the fire or passion in Nedjo’s chest never dies throughout his quest for wisdom."

The story begins and ends with Mama Dwala, a storyteller-figure perhaps comparable to Mother Goose in English-speaking countries. Mama Dwala is depicted as “(Ses) seins sont si lourds qu’ils tombent sur son ventre” (having breasts so heavy they fall on her stomach) and her white hair is compared to “l’écume de la lointaine mer” (the distant foam of the sea). These descriptions are found at both the beginning and end of the tale, allowing us to enter and depart from the fictitious world with a touch of wisdom and humor. The narrator also admits that he is old, explaining that his “langue failblit” (tongue weakens) as he tells the story and that he has to reach into the “broussailles de ma mémoire” (undergrowth of his memory).

Many elements evoke the natural countryside of Africa. The story mentions “ fromagers ” (kapok trees) sharing secrets with “ baobabs ” (baobab trees), both common in the continent. There are also descriptions of the women’s skin, “brillante de l’avoir tant frottée” (shiny from having been rubbed so much), the local culture of bathing, the “bras cliquetant bracelets” (the sound of bracelets), and traditional men’s clothing shining in the sun. Meanwhile, in the distance, the “clang clang” of the “ forgeron ” (blacksmith) can be heard.

When first introduced, the protagonist, Nedjo Dalo, is portrayed as physically and spiritually shut. He sleeps with “poings fermés” (clutched fists), “ne rêve pas” (doesn’t dream), and “n’entend pas le murmure des arbres” (doesn’t hear the wise trees). Upon waking up, he doesn’t thank his mother for breakfast, as he “sans regard pour sa mère” (has no time for her).

He also ignores the local women, as emphasized by the fable-like repetition of the phrases “il ne la regarde meme pas” and “il ne s’arrête meme pas”. The blacksmith’s daughter confronts him, telling him that if he truly thinks he is comparable to the sun, then he should look upon the local women, because “meme le soleil daigne nous faire partager sa grandeur” (even the sun graces us with its grandeur). The terms “daigne” and “grandeur” are commonly used among nobility, and in this case are employed with a mocking tone.

He then reveals his plans to marry the princess, whom he later manages to woo with an elaborate masked dance. This dance is described as “lents déliés” (slow and loose), as his “muscles roulent sous sa peau” (muscles roll under his skin) and his “masque ondule en rythme” (mask undulates to the rhythm). Although his daughter falls for Nedjo immediately, the king of the land remarks that “donner un paon en époux a une lionne n’est pas forcément la meilleur des idées” (giving a peacock to a lioness is not the best of ideas). This metaphor, which contains animals clearly associated with Africa, emphasizes that Nedjo is vain and the princess aggressive.

After a final trial, set up by the king, Nedjo learns a lesson from a beautiful woman called Akouvi, an allegorical stand-in for “connaissance” (wisdom). He then realizes he desires her more honestly than the princess, to which Akouvi responds, “ Tu me desires mais tu auras un long, un très long chemin à parcourir avant de me retrouver. ” This could be the moral of the story: Nedjo had to complete a tough lifelong journey searching for true wisdom. Readers don’t lose hope, because “l’incendie dans la poitrine de Nedjo ne s’st jamais eteint,” that is, the fire or passion in Nedjo’s chest never dies throughout his quest for wisdom.