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Edition 31 (1983) Winner
Sony Lab'ou Tansi
ソニー・ラブー・タンシ
Sony Labou Tansi
Aliases:
Marcel Ntsoni
Pen Names:
Sony La'bou Tansi (pen name)（Pen name adopted as a tribute to poet Tchicaya U Tam'si）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1947-07-05 （Kimwaanza, Belgian Congo (near Kinshasa)）
- Died
- 1995-06-14 （Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo） age 47
- Nationality
- Republic of the Congo
- Languages
- French
- Residence History
- Near Kinshasa (childhood) → Brazzaville (base of activity) → Pointe-Noire (teaching)
Career
- Occupations
- playwright, novelist, poet, teacher, screenwriter, political activist
- Active Years
- 1971-1995
- Affiliations
- Founder of Rocado Zulu Theatre, Associated with MCDDI (Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development)
- Influenced By
- Tchicaya U Tam'si (poet)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| École Normale Supérieure d'Afrique Centrale (Brazzaville) | Faculty of Literature | Department of Literature | — | 1968-1971 | Republic of the Congo |
École Normale Supérieure d'Afrique Centrale (Brazzaville)
Faculty of Literature
/ Department of Literature
Period:
1968-1971
Year of Graduation:
1971
Country:
Republic of the Congo
Studied literature and obtained teaching qualification
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Special Prize of the Festival de la Francophonie | Life and a Half | — | Festival de la Francophonie | 受賞 |
| 1983 | Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire | The Antipeople | — | Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire | 受賞 |
| 1985 | Palme de la Francophonie | The Seven Solitudes of Lorsa Lopez | — | Palme de la Francophonie | 受賞 |
| 1988 | Ibsen Foundation Prize | — | — | Ibsen Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1979 | Concours Théâtral Interafricain (RFI) | — | — | Radio France Internationale | 受賞 |
Special Prize of the Festival de la Francophonie
1979
Work:
Life and a Half
Organization:
Festival de la Francophonie
Result:
受賞
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
1983
Work:
The Antipeople
Organization:
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
Result:
受賞
Palme de la Francophonie
1985
Work:
The Seven Solitudes of Lorsa Lopez
Organization:
Palme de la Francophonie
Result:
受賞
Ibsen Foundation Prize
1988
Organization:
Ibsen Foundation
Result:
受賞
Concours Théâtral Interafricain (RFI)
1979
Organization:
Radio France Internationale
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Life and a Half
1979 novelA picaresque and allegorical novel set in postcolonial Congo, portraying the interplay of violence and life.
postcolonialismcritique of powerviolence and life
Translations
- Life and a Half (trans. Alison Dundy)
The Antipeople
1983 novelA work addressing tyranny and resistance; received international recognition as a political allegory.
abuse of powerresistancepolitical allegory
Translations
- English translation (J. A. Underwood & M. Boyars)
The Seven Solitudes of Lorsa Lopez
1985 novelLinks individual solitude with political circumstances; highly regarded in the Francophone world.
solitudepoliticsindividual and state
Translations
- English translation (Clive Wake)
Parentheses of Blood
1981 theatre / playA play with political allegory that was widely performed on stage.
political critiqueallegory
Adaptations
- [stage] Performed by Rocado Zulu Theatre
Bibliography
- La Vie et demie, Seuil, 1979
- L'État honteux, Seuil, 1981
- La Parenthèse de sang, Hatier, 1981
- L'Anté-peuple, Seuil, 1983
- Les Sept Solitudes de Lorsa Lopez, Seuil, 1985
- Les Yeux du volcan, Seuil, 1988
- Le Commencement des douleurs, Seuil, 1995
Adaptations
- Stage productions by Rocado Zulu Theatre (performed in Africa, Europe, and the United States)
Translations of Works
- La Vie et demie → English translation 'Life and a Half' (Alison Dundy)
- L'Anté-peuple → English translation 'The Antipeople' (J. A. Underwood & M. Boyars)
- Les Sept Solitudes de Lorsa Lopez → English translation 'The Seven Solitudes of Lorsa Lopez' (Clive Wake)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- baroque, rich in metaphorsatirical and ironic toneallegorical expression
- Recurring Motifs
- power and violencesolitude and lifepostcolonial social depiction
Health
-
AIDS (HIV infection)1994-1995Required treatment but was prevented by travel restrictions (passport withdrawal) from seeking care abroad. Lost his partner to the disease and died shortly after.
Legacy
Sony Lab'ou Tansi is one of the leading figures of 'New African Writing', expressing postcolonial political critique through plays and novels. He received international recognition and many works have been translated into English and other languages.
Archives
- Some materials and publications held in Revue Noire archives and related collections
In Popular Culture
- Regular performances and mentions at Francophone theatre festivals
Quotes
-
Literature is a means of resistance.
Source: Interview (1993, International Congress of Literature) (1993)
Trivia
- Birth name was Marcel Ntsoni.
- Pen name adopted as a tribute to poet Tchicaya U Tam'si.
- Founded Rocado Zulu Theatre in 1979 and staged his plays.
- Passport was withdrawn in 1994, preventing travel for treatment.
- His partner Pierrette died of AIDS on 1995-05-31; he died 14 days later.