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Edition 60 (2005) Winner
Véronique Tadjo
ヴェロニーク・タドジョ
Veronique Tadjo
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1955-01-01 （Paris, France）
- Nationality
- Côte d'Ivoire, France
- Languages
- French, English
- Residence History
- Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire → Paris, France → Lagos, Nigeria → Mexico City, Mexico → Nairobi, Kenya → London, United Kingdom → Johannesburg, South Africa
Career
- Occupations
- Poet, Novelist, Artist/Illustrator, Educator
- Active Years
- 1979-
- Affiliations
- University of Abidjan (former lecturer), University of the Witwatersrand (head of French Studies)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Abidjan | — | English | BA | — | Côte d'Ivoire |
| Sorbonne (University of Paris) | — | African-American Literature and Civilization | Doctorate | — | France |
| Howard University (research scholarship) | — | — | — | 1983（フルブライト研究奨学金） | United States |
University of Abidjan
English
Degree:
BA
Country:
Côte d'Ivoire
BA obtained (year not specified)
Sorbonne (University of Paris)
African-American Literature and Civilization
Degree:
Doctorate
Country:
France
Doctorate obtained (year not specified)
Howard University (research scholarship)
Period:
1983（フルブライト研究奨学金）
Country:
United States
Visited on a Fulbright research scholarship in 1983
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Literary Prize of Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique | Latérite (Red Earth) | — | Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique | 受賞 |
| 1993 | UNICEF Prize | Mamy Wata and the Monster | 児童文学 | UNICEF | 受賞（同作は20世紀アフリカの100冊にも選出） |
| 2005 | Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire | — | — | Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire | 受賞 |
| 2016 | Bernard Dadié national grand prize for literature | — | — | Bernard Dadié national grand prize for literature | 受賞 |
| 2022 | Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Fiction) | In the Company of Men | Fiction | Los Angeles Times | 受賞 |
| 2024 | Honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) | — | — | University of St Andrews | 授与（名誉学位） |
Literary Prize of Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique
1983
Work:
Latérite (Red Earth)
Organization:
Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique
Result:
受賞
UNICEF Prize
1993
Work:
Mamy Wata and the Monster
Category:
児童文学
Organization:
UNICEF
Result:
受賞（同作は20世紀アフリカの100冊にも選出）
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
2005
Organization:
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
Result:
受賞
Bernard Dadié national grand prize for literature
2016
Organization:
Bernard Dadié national grand prize for literature
Result:
受賞
Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Fiction)
2022
Work:
In the Company of Men
Category:
Fiction
Organization:
Los Angeles Times
Result:
受賞
Honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt)
2024
Organization:
University of St Andrews
Result:
授与（名誉学位）
Awards & Nominations
Los Angeles Times Book Prize
1 appearances
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Edition 42 (2021) Winner
Works
Major Works
Latérite (Red Earth)
1984 PoetryEarly poetry collection reflecting on African land, memory and identity.
landmemoryidentity
Translations
- English translation: Red Earth (translated by Peter S. Thompson)
A vol d'oiseau (As the Crow Flies)
1986 PoetryA poetry collection that weaves visual imagery and historical consciousness; translated into English.
visual imageryhistorymovement
Translations
- English translation: As the Crow Flies (translated by Wangui wa Goro)
L'ombre d'Imana (The Shadow of Imana)
2000 Reportage / Non-fictionBased on reporting in Rwanda after the genocide; a work about memory and testimony.
memorytraumatestimony
Translations
- English translation: The Shadow of Imana (translated by Veronique Wakerley)
Reine Pokou (Queen Pokou)
2005 Novel / Historical reimaginingA novel reimagining the legendary West African leader Queen Pokou.
female leadershiporal traditionethnic memory
Translations
- English translation: Queen Pokou (translated by Amy B. Reid)
Loin de mon père (Far from My Father)
2010 NovelA novel dealing with family, memory and migration.
familymemorymigration
Translations
- English translation: Far from My Father (translated by Amy B. Reid)
In the Company of Men
2021 NovelA contemporary novel addressing social relations, epidemic and power; received international recognition.
powerepidemichuman relations
Mamy Wata and the Monster
1993 Children's literatureA children's tale incorporating folk elements; won a UNICEF prize and was selected among Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century.
folklorechildrencultural transmission
Translations
- Bilingual edition / English translation: Mamy Wata and the Monster
Bibliography
- Latérite (1984)
- A vol d'oiseau (1986)
- Le Royaume aveugle (1991)
- Mamy Wata and the Monster (1993)
- L'ombre d'Imana (2000)
- Reine Pokou (2005)
- Loin de mon père (2010)
- In the Company of Men (2021)
Translations of Works
- Latérite → Red Earth (English)
- A vol d'oiseau → As the Crow Flies (English)
- L'ombre d'Imana → The Shadow of Imana (English)
- Reine Pokou → Queen Pokou (English)
- Loin de mon père → Far from My Father (English)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Lyrical, image-rich styleNarration that moves between reportage and fiction
- Recurring Motifs
- memory and testimonymigration and diasporaland and earthfemale perspective
Legacy
Véronique Tadjo is a writer, poet and artist whose work traverses African and diasporic themes. From children's literature to reportage and historical fiction, she has received international recognition and multiple awards and is regarded as an important voice in African literature.
Quotes
-
I feel myself to be pan‑African; this is reflected in the subject matter, imagery and allusions of my work.
Source: Interview / Wikipedia (citation needed)
Trivia
- Mamy Wata and the Monster won a UNICEF prize and was selected as one of Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century (one of only four children's books chosen).
- Awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by the University of St Andrews in 2024.