Sami Tchak
Encyclopedia
Sadamba Tcha-Koura pen-name Sami Tchak, is a Togolese
writer.
in 1983, Sami Tchak taught in a high school for three years. He arrived in France
in 1986 to start his
sociology studies, and obtained his PhD at the Sorbonne University in 1993. His research on prostitution carried him to Cuba
for seven months in 1996, resulting in the publication of the essay "Prostitution à Cuba. Communisme, ruses and débrouilles" (foreword by the Cuban writer Eduardo Manet). The discovery of Mexican
and Colombia
n culture significantly influenced his literary choices. These places and the great writers who come from them offered him new horizons of writing.
Since the novel Hermina, published by Gallimard in 2003, all his works take place in an imaginary Latin America
n setting, which actually is far more similar to Africa.
Besides the short stories and articles that has appeared in several magazines and revues, he has published six novels and four essays.
In 2004, Sami Tchak won the Grand Prix of Black African Literature
for the entire range of his work.
His novels have been translated into Spanish, German and Italian.
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
writer.
Biography
After a dissertation in philosophy at the University of LoméUniversity of Lomé
The University of Lomé is the largest university in the African country of Togo. Located in the city of Lomé, it was originally founded in 1970 as University of Benin before changing its name.-2011 student riots:...
in 1983, Sami Tchak taught in a high school for three years. He arrived in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1986 to start his
sociology studies, and obtained his PhD at the Sorbonne University in 1993. His research on prostitution carried him to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for seven months in 1996, resulting in the publication of the essay "Prostitution à Cuba. Communisme, ruses and débrouilles" (foreword by the Cuban writer Eduardo Manet). The discovery of Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n culture significantly influenced his literary choices. These places and the great writers who come from them offered him new horizons of writing.
Since the novel Hermina, published by Gallimard in 2003, all his works take place in an imaginary Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n setting, which actually is far more similar to Africa.
Besides the short stories and articles that has appeared in several magazines and revues, he has published six novels and four essays.
In 2004, Sami Tchak won the Grand Prix of Black African Literature
Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire
The Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire is a literary prize presented every year by the ADELF, the Association of French Language Writers for a French original text from Sub-Saharan Africa....
for the entire range of his work.
His novels have been translated into Spanish, German and Italian.
Novels
- Femme infidèle, Lomé, Nouvelles Editions Africaines, 1988.
- Place des Fêtes, Paris, Gallimard, 2001.
- Hermina, Paris, Gallimard, 2003.
- La fête des masques, Paris, Gallimard, 2004.
- Le paradis des chiots, Paris, Mercure de FranceMercure de FranceThe Mercure de France was originally a French gazette and literary magazine first published in the 17th century, but after several incarnations has evolved as a publisher, and is now part of the Éditions Gallimard publishing group....
, 2006. - Filles de Mexico, Paris, Mercure de France, 2008.
Essays
- "La sexualité féminine en Afrique", Paris, L’Harmattan, 1999.
- "La prostitution à Cuba", Paris, L’Harmattan,1999.
- "L’Afrique à l’épreuve du sida", Paris, L’Harmattan, 2000.
- "Formation d’une élite paysanne au Burkina Faso", Paris, L’Harmattan, 1995.
External links
- http://www.ukzn.ac.za/cca/images/tow/TOW2005/bios/Tchak.htm
- http://www.africansuccess.org/visuFiche.php?id=232&lang=en