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Memory, Orality, and Nation-Building in Patrice Nganang’s La saison des prunes

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Memory as Colonial Capital

Part of the book series: Palgrave Macmillan Memory Studies ((PMMS))

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on how historical sources and the colonial library can be used by African writers to offer readers counter-narrations that challenge imperial history . Patrice Nganang ’s novel La saison des prunes questions on how memories are relative and how they make possible a new story of both the tirailleur sénégalais (African soldiers who fought for France) and World War II. But Nganang ’s novel does not only offer multiple perspectives on a past event; it also raises the issue of the narration of History more broadly. Can the Subaltern really speak and be heard? This chapter examines how historical sources can be used not only for reexamining national past history , but also for effectively building the future.

Translated by Elise Kruidenier

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inalco, Paris, France

    Nathalie Carré

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  1. Nathalie Carré
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Correspondence to Nathalie Carré .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pace University, New York, New York, USA

    Erica L. Johnson

  2. St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, USA

    Éloïse Brezault

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Carré, N. (2017). Memory, Orality, and Nation-Building in Patrice Nganang’s La saison des prunes . In: Johnson, E., Brezault, É. (eds) Memory as Colonial Capital. Palgrave Macmillan Memory Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50577-0_6

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