Crise et adaptation: le traitement de l'identité Africaine dans deux oeuvres d'Ahmadou Kourouma

This paper is a study of the treatment of African identity in two novels by Ahmadou Kourouma: Les Soleils des indpendances and Monn, outrages et dfis. In both of these novels the main characters undergo identity crises as a result of their inability to adapt to changing situations. The once-important rulers lose their power and relevance because of their brittle and self-centered concept of who they are. Kourouma, however, provides hope for an authentic yet modern African identity through the literary and narrative techniques he uses in writing the novels. He writes in a French strongly influenced by his native language of Malinke and integrates techniques from traditional oral stories such as repetition, proverbs, multiple narrators, and direct address. Unlike his main characters, Kourouma proves himself capable of preserving his traditional roots while adapting to the modern world by producing magnificent written literature interwoven with oral techniques.