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Hemley Boum

ヘムレイ・ブーム

Hemurei Būmu

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1973-01-01 （Douala, Cameroon）
Nationality
Cameroon
Languages
French
Residence History
Yaoundé, Cameroon → Paris, France

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
2010-

Education

Catholic University of Central Africa (Yaoundé)
Social Sciences
Degree: 修士
Country: Cameroon
Master's degree in social sciences
Lille Catholic University
International trade / marketing qualification
Country: France
Studied international trade and obtained a marketing/quality qualification in Lille

Awards

Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
2016
Work: Les maquisards
Organization: Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
Result: 受賞
Prix Les Afriques
2016
Work: Les maquisards
Organization: Prix Les Afriques
Result: 受賞
Prix Ivoire
2013
Work: Si d'aimer…
Organization: Prix Ivoire
Result: 受賞
Prix Ahmadou-Kourouma
2020
Work: Days Come and Go
Organization: Prix Ahmadou-Kourouma
Result: 受賞
Sciences Po Alumni literary prize (first edition)
2024
Work: Le Rêve du pêcheur
Organization: Sciences Po Alumni Association
Result: 受賞
Grand prix Afrique
2025
Work: The Fisherman's Dream
Organization: Association of French-Language Writers / related organization
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Le Clan des femmes

2010 Novel (historical elements)

Based on memories of the author's grandmother, the novel portrays the lives of African women in the early 20th century, addressing family relations and polygamy. Originally serialized on a blog before book publication.

familywomen's experiencespolygamy

Si d'aimer…

2012 Novel

A novel focused on love and interpersonal relationships. Winner of the Prix Ivoire in 2013.

loveinterpersonal relationships

Les maquisards

2015 Historical novel

A historical novel set during Cameroon's struggles for independence, exploring colonialism and resistance.

independence movementscolonialismresistance

Les jours viennent et passent / Days Come and Go

2019 Novel

Follows three generations of Cameroonian women and examines the impact of extremism in Cameroon. Winner of the Prix Ahmadou-Kourouma (2020). An English translation, 'Days Come and Go', was published in 2022.

women's historyintergenerational relationsimpact of extremism
Translations
  • Dutch translation: De dagen komen en gaan (2020)
  • English translation: Days Come and Go (2022)

Le Rêve du pêcheur / The Fisherman's Dream

2024 Novel

A novel addressing mental health and intergenerational trauma. Published in 2024 and received several recognitions, including a Sciences Po Alumni literary prize.

mental healthintergenerational trauma

Bibliography

  • Le Clan des femmes, Paris: L'Harmattan, 2010
  • Si d'aimer…, Ciboure: La Cheminante, 2012
  • Les maquisards, Ciboure: La Cheminante, 2015
  • Les jours viennent et passent, Paris: Gallimard, 2019
  • Le Rêve du pêcheur, Paris: Gallimard, 2024

Translations of Works

  • Les jours viennent et passent → De dagen komen en gaan (Dutch, 2020)
  • Les jours viennent et passent → Days Come and Go (English, 2022)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realist narrative stylenarratives woven with historical context
Recurring Motifs
effects of colonialismwomen and intergenerational relationshipsmemory and trauma

Legacy

Hemley Boum, a Cameroonian French-language writer, has established recognition for works exploring colonialism, intergenerational issues, and women's experiences. She has won multiple international literary prizes and her work has been translated into several languages.

Quotes

  • African authors were markedly absent, even in libraries.
    Source: L'Orient Littéraire (interview) (2024)

Trivia

  • Her first novel, Le Clan des femmes, began as a serialized blog and was later published as a book.
  • She was the eldest of five children and her mother was a French teacher.
  • Moved to Paris in 2009 with her husband and two children.
  • Her novels have been translated into Dutch and English.
  • Awarded prizes including the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire and the Prix Ahmadou-Kourouma.