Alain Mabanckou: «I believe in the literary universe, which always reminds us of where we come from».»8 reading minutes

Le Regard Libre N° 59 - Loris S. Musumeci

The room at the NH Hotel in Fribourg was buzzing with laughter. Alain Mabanckou gave a lecture far removed from austere, serious theses, offering listeners entertainment, but instructive! He spoke about the Congo and his childhood, which he recounts in his latest novel, Les cigognes sont immortelles. His main character, little Michel, mourns the death of Communist President Ngouabi, and his family becomes embroiled in a dirty business. From this autobiographical story, the writer gives us a taste of his simple, rich style, with a childlike yet lucid tone.

Alain Mabanckou is a master of language and storytelling, which has earned him international success and numerous awards, including the Renaudot in 2006 for Mémoires de porc-épic. But he's also a master in his own right, who, in addition to being a master in his own right, is also a master in his own right.