Massa Makan Diabaté
マッサ・マカン・ディアバテ
Massa Makan Diabaté
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1938-06-12 （Kita, Mali）
- Died
- 1988-01-27 （Bamako, Mali） age 49
- Nationality
- Malian
- Languages
- French, Malinké
- Religion
- Islam
- Residence History
- Kita (birthplace) → Guinea (study) → Paris, France (study/residence) → Bamako, Mali (residence)
Career
- Occupations
- historian, author, playwright
- Active Years
- 1960-1988
- Influenced By
- Kélé Monson Diabaté (uncle, master griot), Malinké oral tradition (griot tradition)
- Influenced
- Writers of contemporary Malian literature, Authors blending oral tradition with written literature
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University in Paris (unspecified) | History, Sociology and Political Science (combined) | — | — | — | France |
University in Paris (unspecified)
History, Sociology and Political Science (combined)
Country:
France
Known to have studied history, sociology and political science in Paris; exact institution and degree details are unspecified.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire | Janjon and Other Popular Songs of Mali | — | Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire (awarding body associated with Présence Africaine) | 受賞 |
| 1987 | Grand prix international de la Fondation Léopold Sédar Senghor | Kouta trilogy (Le lieutenant de Kouta, Le coiffeur de Kouta, Le boucher de Kouta) | — | Fondation Léopold Sédar Senghor | 受賞 |
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
1971
Work:
Janjon and Other Popular Songs of Mali
Organization:
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire (awarding body associated with Présence Africaine)
Result:
受賞
Grand prix international de la Fondation Léopold Sédar Senghor
1987
Work:
Kouta trilogy (Le lieutenant de Kouta, Le coiffeur de Kouta, Le boucher de Kouta)
Organization:
Fondation Léopold Sédar Senghor
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Si le feu s'éteignait
1967 short fiction/folkloreEarly work influenced by oral traditions; a collection of short pieces.
oral traditionmemory
Janjon and Other Popular Songs of Mali
1970 folklore/compilationA French-language compilation of Malian songs and popular chants documenting oral culture. Won the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire in 1971.
folkloreoral tradition
Kala Jata
1970 folk tale/fictionBased on Malinké tales; an attempt to transcribe oral narratives into written form.
traditionstorytelling
The Eagle and the Sparrowhawk or the Gesture of Soundjata
1975 epic/folkloreWork based on the Sundiata epic; a reconstruction of Malinké epic tradition.
heroic taletradition and transformation
Une si belle leçon de patience
1973 playA play addressing social themes and human relations.
societypatience
Le lieutenant de Kouta
1979 novelFirst of the Kouta trilogy; depicts clashes between tradition and modernity.
tradition vs modernitylocal community
Le coiffeur de Kouta
1980 novelMiddle volume of the Kouta trilogy, portraying society through characters' lives and ethics.
moralitycommunity
Comme une piqûre de guêpe
1980 short fiction/essayA collection of short pieces including social observations.
observationsocial critique
Le boucher de Kouta
1982 novelFinal volume of the Kouta trilogy; examines how a protagonist's breach of norms affects the community.
breaking normscommunity benefit
L'assemblée des djinns
1985 novelA novel themed on the decline of the griot and tradition; offers a critical perspective on the role of griots.
griotreassessment of tradition
Le Lion à l'arc
1986 novelA late work attempting to fuse traditional motifs with contemporary issues.
traditionmodernity
Bibliography
- 1967: Si le feu s'éteignait
- 1970: Janjon et autres chants populaires du Mali
- 1970: Kala Jata
- 1973: Une si belle leçon de patience (play)
- 1975: L'aigle et l'épervier ou la geste de Soundjata
- 1979: Le lieutenant de Kouta
- 1980: Le coiffeur de Kouta
- 1980: Comme une piqûre de guêpe
- 1982: Le boucher de Kouta
- 1985: L'assemblée des djinns
- 1986: Le Lion à l'arc
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- A style that incorporates griot (oral) traditions into written formAllegorical and epic narrative voice
- Recurring Motifs
- tradition and betrayal (fadenya)patriarchy and communal normsthe role and reevaluation of the griot
Legacy
Massa Makan Diabaté is regarded for integrating Malinké oral griot traditions into modern literature and redefining the role of the griot in written form. Through his works and awards he influenced contemporary Malian literature; two high schools in Mali bear his name.
In Popular Culture
- High schools in Mali named after Massa Makan Diabaté
Quotes
-
“I am what Kèlè Monson wanted me to be when he initiated me into the Malinké oral tradition. And I'll say that I betrayed him by writing novels. I'm the child of Kélé Monson, but a traitorous child.”
Source: Interview / cited in Keïta, 1995 (1995)
Trivia
- Won the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire in 1971 for Janjon.
- Won the Grand prix international de la Fondation Léopold Sédar Senghor in 1987 for the Kouta trilogy.
- The Malian government named high schools after him in Bamako and the Kayes region.