Black Poets: Véronique Tadjo.

…Ces rois patients
Sur les cimes du silence
Et la beauté des vieux
Aux sourires fanés
Mon passé revenu
Du fond de ma mémoire…

Véronique Tadjo is a renowned Ivorian novelist, poet, and writer. At 69, her work stands as a powerful testament to her rich heritage and the influence of the French language, in which most of her writing is rooted and written. Her work has been translated into over 20 languages, but as English author Samuel Johnson observed, “the beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written.” For readers to fully appreciate the voice of her poetry, a familiarity with the French language is almost imperative.

A dedicated pan-Africanist, Tadjo has journeyed extensively through African communities, immersing herself in local cultures, documenting her experiences, and transforming them into poignant narratives. Her work has often reflected the resilience of Africans, celebrating the endurance of life even amidst harrowing circumstances. While she does not shy away from exploring Africa’s dark and painful histories, including themes of war, migration, and genocide, she underscores the continuity of life as a source of hope and inspiration.

Two of her most notable works, L’Atérite (Red Earth) and À Vol d’Oiseau (As the Crow Flies), offer powerful communal stories that explore the shared African experience.

In 1998, she participated in Project Rwanda, an initiative where a group of writers bore witness to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. Through this project, Tadjo and her colleagues produced works that confronted the brutal realities of the tragedy, embracing their responsibility as African writers to document and honour these histories.

Véronique Tadjo’s bold and uncompromising voice resonates in all facets of her work. Her art is a celebration of African resilience, identity, and shared humanity, making her a vital figure in contemporary African literature. ‎

Raconte-moi by Véronique Tadjo

Raconte-moi

La parole du Griot
Qui chante l’Afrique
Des temps immémoriaux
Il dit
Ces rois patients
Sur les cimes du silence
Et la beauté des vieux
Aux sourires fanés
Mon passé revenu
Du fond de ma mémoire
Comme un serpent totem
A mes chevilles lié
Ma solitude
Et mes espoirs brisés
Qu’apporterais-je
A mes enfants
Si j’ai perdu leur âme ?

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Keyu Usani

Columnist || Black Poets at Konya Shamsrumi Press

A proficient article writer, research analyst and copy editor. I have loved books for as long as I can remember. From the smell of books just out of their wraps to the feel when I run my fingertips down the spine, the fonts and sizes, the various ways cover and internal elements are arranged as much as the places books take me to and the people I meet within those pages. Archiving poetry is a special passion.

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