Kama Sywor Kamanda

Kama Sywor Kamanda

Kama Sywor Kamanda is an award-winning writer and poet from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Biography

Kamanda Kama Sywor was born on November 11, 1952, in Luebo, Democratic Republic of Congo, from father Malaba Kamenga and mother Kony Ngalula.

After publishing a first collection of stories at the age of 15, Kamanda studied literature, journalism, political science, philosophy and law, and worked in journalism. In 1970, he participated in the creation of the Union of Congolese Writers (Union des écrivains congolais). Forced to leave the Congo in 1977 due to his political activities, Kamanda lived in various European countries before settling in Luxembourg.

In 1985, Kamanda was the founding president of the African Association of Writers, of which L. S. Senghor was the honorary president. As a poet, story teller and novelist, Kamanda subsequently produced a considerable body of literary work, including a dozen anthologies of poetry, several hundred stories, as well as several novels.

Living in perpetual exile, this universal writer has gained worldwide notoriety that has seen him travelling constantly for conferences, poetry readings and festivals.

Kamanda's works have been translated into many languages, including English, Japanese, Italian, and Greek. This writer has earned several major prizes and distinctions, including the Paul Verlaine Prize from the Académie française (1987), the Louise Labbé Prize (1990), the Black Africa Grand Prize for Literature (1991), and the Théophile Gautier prize (1993) from the Académie française. In 2005, the International Council for Francophone Studies (Conseil international d’études francophones) conferred upon him the prestigious Maurice-Cagnon Certificate of Honour, for his unique contribution to world francophone literature.

His stories draw their imagery from African traditions, but constitute a universe at the boundary between the fantastic and the author’s own reality. His numerous books of poetry focus on the themes of celebrating Africa and of the pain of exile and solitude, all against a backdrop of fervent celebration of love.

"My poetry speaks of men and women from all continents who fight for a real and just humanism where their dreams can become reality. It’s a poetry of life, of love, of hope and of the exaltation of values that encourage the blossoming of the individual within a community where harmony depends upon the contribution of each member." ~ Kama Sywor Kamanda

Literary works

Stories

Les Contes des veillées africaines, 1967, 1985
Les Contes du griot, t. I, Préface de Léopold Sedar Senghor, 1988
Les Contes du griot, t. II (La Nuit des griots), 1991, 1996
Les contes du griot, t.III (Les Contes des veillées africaines, édition augmentée), 1998
Les Contes du crépuscule, 2000
Contes (édition illustrée) 2003
Contes (Les œuvres complètes) 2004
Contes africains (Grund) 2006

Poetry

Chants de brumes. Preface by Jacques Iozard, 1986, 1997, 2002
Les Résignations. Preface by Mateja Matevski, 1986, 1997
Éclipse d’étoiles. Preface by Claude Michel Cluny, 1987, 1997
La Somme du néant. Preface by Pierrette Micheloud, 1989, 1999
L’Exil des songes. Preface by Marc Alyn, 1992
Les Myriades des temps vécus. Preface by Mario Luzi, 1992, 1999
Les Vents de l’épreuve. Preface by Salah Stétié, 1993, 1997
Quand dans l’âme les mers s’agitent. Preface by Jean-Baptiste Tati Loutard, 1994, 1998
L’Étreinte des mots. Preface by Maria Luisa Spaziani, 1995
Le Sang des solitudes, 2002
Œuvre poétique, 1999
Oeuvre poétique (édition intégrale), 2008

Novels

Lointaines sont les rives du destin, 1994, 2000, 2007
La Traversée des mirages, 2006
La Joueuse de Kora, 2006
L'Insondable destin des Hommes, 2013

Essay

Au-delà de Dieu, au-delà des chimères, 2007

Vivre et aimer,2016 
       THEATER

L'Homme torturé, 2013

Toutankhamon, 2015
Candace 1ère,2015
L'Entremetteuse,2016
On peut s'aimer sans se comprendre,2016

Translated works

English : Wind Whispering Soul, 2001 ; Tales, 2001
Italian : Le miriadi di tempi vissuti, 2004 ; La stretta delle parole, 2004
Japanese : Les Contes du griot, t. I, 2000 ; t. II, 2005
Chinese : Les Contes du griot, t. I, 2003 ; t. II, 2004

Prizes and distinctions

French Academy Paul Verlaine award, 1987
Louise Labé award, 1990
Black Africa Association of French-Speaking Writers, 1991
Special Poetry Award, Academic Institute of Paris, 1992
Silver Jasmin for Poetical Originality, Agen, 1992
French Academy Théophile Gautier award, 1993
Melina Mercouri award, Greek Poets and Writers Association, 1999
Poet of the Millennium 2000 award, International Poets Academy, India, 2000
Honorary Citizen Joal-Fadiouth, Senegal, 2000
Poetry award, International Society of Greek Writers, 2002
Exceptional Contribution Honor Certificate Maurice-Cagnon, International Council for French Studies, 2005
Master Diploma for Specialty Honors in Writing, World Academy of Letters, United States of America, 2006
French Academy Heredia award, 2009

Studies

Marie-Claire De Coninck, Kama Kamanda : Au pays du Conte, Paris, Ed. L'Harmattan, 1993.
Pierrette Sartin, Kama Kamanda, Poète de l'exil, Paris, Ed. L'Harmattan, 1994.
Marc Alyn (préf.), Kama Kamanda, Hommage, 1997.
Isabelle Cata et Franck Nyalendo, Kama Sywor Kamanda, Luxembourg, Ed. Paul Bauler, 2003.
Marie-Madeleine Van Ruymbeke Stey (dir.), Regards critiques, Ed. L'Harmattan, 2007.

Sources

Cata, Isabelle, La Quête du rêve d'absolu: Recréer le monde, pénétrer l'infini, mesurer le néant, une réflexion critique sur l'oeuvre de Kama Sywor Kamanda, Paris, Edition Dagan, 2015.
Cata, Isabelle; Nyalendo, Franck (2003). Kama Sywor Kamanda: chantre de la mémoire égyptienne. Paul Bauler. ISBN 978-2-919885-51-0.
Chevrier, Jacques (2005). L'arbre à palabres. Essai sur les contes et récits traditionnels d'Afrique noire. Hatier International. ISBN 978-2-7473-0453-5.
De Coninck, Marie-Claire (1993). Kama Kamanda : Au pays du Conte. Editions de L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2-7384-2055-8.
Kamanda, Kama Sywor (1998). Les Contes du griot, vol 1,. Présence africaine.
Kamanda, Kama Sywor (1992). Les myriades des temps vécus. L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2-7384-1478-6.
Mateso, Locha (1987). Hatier. ISBN 978-2-218-07941-2. Missing or empty |title= (help)
Sartin, Pierrette (1994). Kama Kamanda, Poète de l'exil. L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2-7384-2459-4.

External links

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