-
Edition 54 (1999) Winner
Alain Mabanckou
アラン・マバンコウ
Alain Mabanckou
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1966-02-24 （Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)）
- Nationality
- French, Republic of the Congo
- Languages
- French
- Residence History
- Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo → Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo → Paris, France → Santa Monica, California, United States
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Journalist, Poet, Academic, Professor
- Active Years
- 1993-
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Michigan, Coll e8ge de France (visiting chair)
- Memberships
- Royal Society of Literature (elected International Writer)
- Influenced By
- James Baldwin, Samuel Beckett (noted comparison/influence)
- Influenced
- Nominations
- Man Booker International Prize finalist (2015), Premio Strega Europeo finalist (2015), Man Booker International Prize longlist (Black Moses / 2017)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marien Ngouabi University | — | — | — | — | Republic of the Congo |
| Université Paris-Dauphine | — | — | 大学院法学ディプロマ（短期課程） | — | France |
Marien Ngouabi University
Country:
Republic of the Congo
Completed preliminary law classes
Université Paris-Dauphine
Degree:
大学院法学ディプロマ（短期課程）
Country:
France
Post-graduate Diploma in Law
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Grand prix litt e9raire d'Afrique noire | Blue White Red | — | Presence Africaine / awarding committee | 受賞 |
| 2005 | Prize of the Five Continents of Francophony | Broken Glass | — | Organisation internationale de la Francophonie | 受賞 |
| 2006 | Prix Renaudot | Memoirs of a Porcupine | — | Prix Renaudot committee | 受賞 |
| 2010 | Chevalier of the Legion of Honour | — | — | French Republic | 叙勲 |
| 2021 | Royal Society of Literature - International Writer | — | — | Royal Society of Literature | 選出 |
| 2012 | Grand Prix de littérature Henri Gal (Académie Française) | for his entire work | — | Académie Française | 受賞 |
Grand prix litt e9raire d'Afrique noire
1999
Work:
Blue White Red
Organization:
Presence Africaine / awarding committee
Result:
受賞
Prize of the Five Continents of Francophony
2005
Work:
Broken Glass
Organization:
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
Result:
受賞
Prix Renaudot
2006
Work:
Memoirs of a Porcupine
Organization:
Prix Renaudot committee
Result:
受賞
Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
2010
Organization:
French Republic
Result:
叙勲
Royal Society of Literature - International Writer
2021
Organization:
Royal Society of Literature
Result:
選出
Grand Prix de littérature Henri Gal (Académie Française)
2012
Work:
for his entire work
Organization:
Académie Française
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Prix Renaudot (Prix Théophraste-Renaudot)
1 appearances
-
Edition 81 (2006) Winner
Works
Major Works
Broken Glass
2005 Novel (comic, satirical)A comic novel narrated by a former teacher frequenting a bar, satirically depicting everyday life of Congolese people and diasporic experience; has been adapted for the stage.
DiasporaUrban lifeSocial alienation
Adaptations
- [Theatre] Broken Glass (stage adaptation)
Translations
- Broken Glass (English translation)
Memoirs of a Porcupine
2006 Novel (magic realism)Narrated by a porcupine that acts as the double of its human master Kibandi, the novel uses folklore and magic realism to explore themes of duality, violence, power and sacrifice.
Duality (doppelganger)Violence and powerTradition and magic
Translations
- Memoirs of a Porcupine (English translation)
Black Bazar
2009 Novel (dark comedy)Set in the Parisian bar 'Jip's', the novel portrays intersecting lives of African diasporas in France with dark humor.
Immigrant experienceCommunity and identityUrban marginality
Translations
- Black Bazaar (English translation)
Black Moses
2015 NovelA novel weaving memories of Congo, political events and personal experiences; published in English as Black Moses.
MemoryPoliticsPersonal history
Translations
- Black Moses (English translation)
Bibliography
- Bleu-Blanc-Rouge (1998) / Blue White Red
- Et Dieu seul sait comment je dors (2001)
- The Negro Grandsons of Vercingetorix (2002)
- African Psycho (2003)
- Broken Glass (2005)
- Memoirs of a Porcupine (2006)
- Black Bazar (2009)
- Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty (2010)
- Tais-toi et meurs (2012)
- The Lights of Pointe-Noire (2013)
- Black Moses (2015)
- The Death of Comrade President (2018)
- Dealing with the Dead (2022)
Adaptations
- Verre cass e9 (stage adaptations)
Translations of Works
- Verre cass e9 → Broken Glass (English)
- M e9moires de porc- e9pic → Memoirs of a Porcupine (English)
- Petit Piment → Black Moses (English)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Humorous and satirical narrationColloquial, rhythmic proseIncorporation of folklore and magic realism
- Recurring Motifs
- Duality / doppelgangerDiaspora and urban lifeCommunity portrayed through bars and conversational spaces
Legacy
Alain Mabanckou is one of the most prominent African writers in the contemporary Francophone world; his internationally recognized body of work combines humor and critical insight to address diaspora experience and African traditions while engaging universal themes beyond national or ethnic categories.
In Popular Culture
- Founded the musical project Black Bazar and is known for expression beyond literature
- Depictions of Parisian bars and diasporic urban life have become cultural reference points
Quotes
-
All human beings have an animal double. Some doubles are benign, others wicked.
Source: Memoirs of a Porcupine (2006)
Trivia
- Founded the musical project Black Bazar.
- Awarded Chevalier of the L e9gion d'honneur in 2010.
- Named Puterbaugh Fellow in 2016.
- Served as a judge for the 2022 Booker Prize.