Contemporary Francophone African Plays

Bringing together in English translation eleven Francophone African plays dating from 1970 to 2021, this essential collection includes satirical portraits of colonizers and their collaborators (Bernard Dadis Batrice du Congo; Sony Labou Tansis I, Undersigned, Cardiac Case; Snouvo Agbota Zinsous Were Just Playing) alongside contemporary works questioning diasporic identity and cultural connections (Koffi Kwahuls SAMO: A Tribute to Basquiat and Penda Dioufs Tracks, Trails, and Traces). The anthology memorializes the Rwandan genocide (Yolande Mukagasanas testimony from Rwanda 94), questions the status of women in entrenched patriarchy (Werewere Likings Singu Mura: Given That a Woman), and follows the life of Elizabeth Nietzsche, who perverted her brothers thought to colonize Paraguay (Jos Pliyas The Sister of Zarathustra). Gustave Akakpos The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood and Kossi Efouis The Conference of the Dogs offer parables about what makes life livable, while Kangni Alems The Landing shows the dangers of believing in a better life, through migration, outside of Africa.