A. A. Mdahoma, Le Roman comorien de langue française - Francophone and Oral Literatures

French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. A. Mdahoma, Le Roman comorien de langue française
Francophone and Oral Literatures

Ali Abdou Mdahoma, Le Roman comorien de langue française

Preface by Robert Smadja.

Paris: L'Harmattan, "Critiques littéraires" series, 2012.

304 p.

EAN 9782336002958 (EAN Ebook PDF format: 9782296507678)

28.00 EUR (digital version: 21.00 EUR)

Publisher's Description:

Born in 1985 with the publication of Mohamed A. Toihiri's La République des Imberbes, the Comorian novel has largely emerged from its former obscurity and won recognition. However, it is still not taught in the Comoros, remains largely unknown to the general public, and has never been the subject of a comprehensive study. Thus, Ali Abdou Mdahoma's book aims to provide a general overview of this genre, identifying and presenting the main Comorian novelists and their works from 1985 to 2005.

Ali Abdou Mdahoma holds a PhD in Literature from the University of Paris-Est Créteil. He continues his research in Paris while teaching literature in the Académie de Créteil.

The Comorian novel occupies a unique yet often overlooked position within the broader landscape of Francophone postcolonial literature. While Indian Ocean literatures from Madagascar or Mauritius have enjoyed significant critical attention, the literary output of the Comoros remains understudied. By tracing the emergence of this tradition from its inception with Mohamed A. Toihiri's La République des Imberbes in 1985, Ali Abdou Mdahoma provides a vital historical framework. This study maps how Comorian writers have utilized the French language to navigate local realities, cultural identity, and the complex socio-political history of the archipelago.

This work is highly valuable for researchers and students of Francophone studies, African literature, and postcolonial theory. It addresses critical questions about how a national literature defines itself in the absence of institutional support and formal academic instruction within its home country. By cataloging and analyzing two decades of literary production, Mdahoma offers an indispensable reference guide for those seeking to expand their understanding of peripheral Francophone voices. It serves as an essential starting point for integrating Comorian fiction into broader academic curricula and comparative literary discussions.