Oui mon commandant!

Oui mon commandant! is a memoir documenting Amadou Hampâté Bâ's years as a colonial civil servant in Upper Volta and Mali during the 1920s and 1930s. The book follows his experiences working within the French colonial administration while maintaining his identity as a proud Fulani man. The narrative tracks Bâ's assignments across various regions and his encounters with both French authorities and local populations. His position between these two worlds creates unique challenges as he navigates colonial bureaucracy, traditional African customs, and complex social hierarchies. Through detailed observations and personal anecdotes, Bâ reconstructs the realities of French West Africa during a pivotal period of colonial rule. The text preserves accounts of administrative practices, cultural traditions, and daily life across different communities. This memoir stands as both historical documentation and cultural commentary, exploring themes of identity, power dynamics, and the intersection of African and European worldviews during the colonial period. Bâ's dual perspective as both participant and observer allows for a nuanced examination of this complex historical moment.

Readers describe this autobiography as an enlightening view into colonial French West Africa through Bâ's firsthand accounts as a colonial civil servant. What readers liked: - The detailed descriptions of 1920s-30s life in French Sudan - The author's ability to navigate between traditional African and colonial French cultures - The humor and wit in Bâ's storytelling - The insights into local customs, ceremonies and social structures What readers disliked: - Complex narrative structure that some found hard to follow - Long passages of administrative details - Limited availability of English translations Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (38 ratings) Babelio: 4.2/5 (26 ratings) From reviews: "A fascinating glimpse into a world between two cultures" - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes gets bogged down in bureaucratic minutiae" - Babelio reviewer "His observant eye and dry wit make even administrative tasks engaging" - Les Lectures d'Alfred

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🌍 Though written in French, the book describes Hampâté Bâ's experiences as a colonial civil servant in French Sudan (now Mali) in the 1920s, offering rare first-hand insights into the complex relationship between African civil servants and French colonial administrators. 📚 The title "Oui mon commandant!" ("Yes, commander!") reflects the standard response African civil servants were required to give to French colonial officials, highlighting the power dynamics of the era. ✍️ Amadou Hampâté Bâ was known for his exceptional memory and dedication to preserving oral traditions - he famously said "In Africa, when an old person dies, it's a library burning." 🗣️ The book serves as both memoir and historical document, preserving details about traditional African societies that were rapidly changing under colonial rule, including customs, social structures, and diplomatic practices. 📖 Published posthumously in 1994, the book is a sequel to "Amkoullel, l'enfant peul" (Amkoullel, the Fula Child) and continues Hampâté Bâ's autobiographical journey through colonial West Africa.