Mariama Bâ
Biography
Mariama Bâ was born in Dakar in 1929. Her family were well-off. Her father was a government official and later became minister of health. Her mother died when she was young and she was bought up in the Muslim tradition by her grandparents. She earned a teacher’s certificate and taught for twelve years before joining the schools inspectorate. She had nine children with three different husbands. She became very much involved in women’s rights and education for girls.
She wrote two novels. Her first novel – Une si longue lettre (So Long a Letter) – was a feminist novel and had considerable success. Her second novel appeared two years later but she died soon after from cancer in 1981.
Other Links
Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâ
Mariama Bâs
Mariama Bâ (in French)
Bibliography
1979 Une si longue lettre (So Long a Letter)
1981 Un chant écarlate (Scarlet Song)