Women’s plight in the Sahel: A central issue in Djaïli Amadou Amal’s works

Reported by Laura. Originally published by Global Voices on 21 September 2024. This is an archived report; dates and circumstances refer to its original publication.

In the Sahel, women face a daily onslaught of abuse that society refuses to address publicly. Only through literature can we break these taboos and open a discussion on this matter.

This is precisely what Cameroonian–Egyptian writer Djaïli Amadou Amal has achieved. Djaïli had a troubled youth herself. Forced to marry an older man at just 17, she got divorced and remarried a man who became abusive towards her. However, determined to find freedom through her writing, she has since written several novels. These novels include “ Walaande, l’art de partager un mari ” (“Walaande, the Art of Sharing a Husband”) in 2010; “ Mistiriijo, la mangeuse d'âmes ” (“Mistrijiijo, the Eater of Souls”) in 2013; “ Munyal, les larmes de la patience ” (“Munyal, the Tears of Patience”) in 2017; “ Les Impatientes ” (“The Impatient”) in 2020; “ Coeur du Sahel ”(“Heart of the Sahel”) in 2022 and “ Le harem du roi ” (“the King’s Harem”) in 2024.

In an e-mail interview with Global Voices, Djaïli Amadou Amal spoke openly about her writing and commitment to women in the Sahel.

Jean Sovon (JS): Sahel women are the protagonists in your novels . How do these women, who become strong emotive characters, inspire you?

Djaïli Amadou Amal (DAA) : My novels are based on the plight of women in the Sahel. I put their plight and eagerness for emancipation into perspective by making the readers aware of this plight and letting women know it is up to them to take responsibility for their collective struggle for emancipation. My life is one of resilience and self-sacrifice. I’m a great believer in fundamental humanitarian principles. All this has contributed to my outlook on things and, in a way, determines the rationale behind and priorities of my literary commitments. The characters in my novels echo my sensibilities and draw on my aspirations and desires to improve women’s plight in the Sudano–Sahelian culture, from which I originate, and beyond.

JS: In your novels, you write about relatively taboo issues, such as the abduction and rape of women. Does your status as a world-renowned writer give you freedom from traditional writing trends ? What do your Cameroonian readers think ?

DAA : The issues I address in my writing are based on my interests and commitments. In this respect, I don’t limit myself to specific issues or question whether the issues I address are taboo. For me, this is unnecessary, especially when it comes to issues that cause women’s suffering. What good is remaining silent on these issues, given the tremendous suffering they cause for women stripped of their humanity on the grounds of some doctrine? Let’s be clear: any tradition that causes suffering or alienates community members is inappropriate. Humanity and human rights are universal and are built on universal human values. No tradition should take precedence over these values. And besides, while we’re on the subject, I would like to point out that traditions don’t just come to us from the skies! They come from our ancestors. Traditions that were appropriate centuries ago may not necessarily be so today. Therefore, it is up to each generation and community to move with the times and adapt its traditions for the collective development of its members. A community’s failure to positively transform its traditions can only lead to its downfall. Such transformations are only possible through enlightened individuals driven by deep humanist beliefs and committed to the belief that humanity, regardless of gender or color, is one.

Moreover, my reputation as a writer doesn’t determine the issues I address. Even my first novels addressed taboo issues in our society. What do Cameroonian readers think? All I know is that I receive a lot of support. Many women (and not just Cameroonian women) have written to tell me how much my books have helped them change and how strong they are now. And look, men also send me their support. Our critics don’t usually read our work.

In this video by French media outlet 20 Minutes , Djaïli Amadou Amal looks back on her forced marriage experience and her decision to free herself and become a feminist:

JS: African literature remains largely unknown. Have you observed any developments on the continent or elsewhere? Have publishing companies succeeded in transforming the book landscape by making books more accessible and affordable for African readers?

DAA : The situation is perhaps changing slowly but surely. African literature has a voice in its own right in world literature, and this voice is increasingly respected as people open up to the world. However, we must note that the biggest challenge facing African literature, and especially Sub-Saharan literature, is the book world’s weak infrastructure. Book policies are generally flawed, and this, combined with the publishing industry’s lack of resources, hinders the distribution and competitiveness of the books printed on this continent. Books printed outside the continent are prohibitively expensive for the average citizen.

Regarding costs, I tried to find solutions by retaining the rights to my books in Sub-Saharan Africa so that the same books printed in Europe could be co-published locally at a third of the international rate.

JS: What well-known and lesser-known authors from Sub-Saharan Africa would you recommend for our readers to help them discover the dynamics of this part of the continent?

DAA : There are many in this category. The list is far from exhaustive, but I would recommend Fatou Diome , a Franco-Senegalese writer, poet, and university professor; Mbarek Ould Beyrouk , a Mauritanian journalist and writer; Danielle Éyango , a Cameroonian legal expert, poet, and writer; and Imbolo Mbue , an American-Cameroonian writer.

In January 2021, French television network Tv5monde interviewed Djaïli Amadou Amal following the publication of her novel “ The Impatient. ” This novel tells the story of three women forced to patiently wait for the husbands they are expected to marry from their early childhood. In this interview, the author spoke about her commitment to combating violence against women, primarily through her association “ Femmes du Sahel ” (“Women of the Sahel”), which she founded in 2012 for women’s progress in Northern Cameroon.

Image credit

Cover context image: Djaili-Amadou-Amal. This archival or illustrative image is not presented as a photograph of the reported event. Creator: DeuxPlusQuatre. Original image and full attribution. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and compressed for web display; the image retains its stated license.

Publication credits

Written (Français) by Jean Sovon Translated (English) by Laura. Original report published by Global Voices. Republished under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. Adapted for Gistmax: formatting simplified; duplicate original-language quotations and embedded media omitted; cover photograph replaced. This republication does not imply endorsement of Gistmax by the author or publisher.