Calixthe Beyala
Calixthe Beyala is a Cameroonian-French writer who writes in French.
Biography
A Cameroonian author and member of the Eton people, Calixthe Beyala was born in Sa'a to Cameroonian parents.Her aunt and grandmother were particularly strong influences on her development, and she grew up listening to her grandmother's stories. Stories from which she drew inspiration and used to motivate her to work hard toward the creation of a meaningful career.
Beyala was educated at the École Principale du Camp Mboppi in Douala and went on to study at the Lycée des Rapides à Bangui and the Lycée Polyvalent de Douala.
She eventually won a scholarship to study in Paris at the age of seventeen, where she through a strong academic performance obtained a baccalaureate.
After a few years in Spain she published her first book, C'est le soleil qui m'a brûlée, at the age of 23 and eventually chose to become a full-time writer.
Awards
- 1998 - Le Prix comité français de l'UNESCO
- 1996 – Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie Française
- 1994 – Prix François Mauriac de l’Académie Française
- 1994 – Prix tropique
- 1993 – Grand prix littéraire de l’Afrique noire
Works
C'est le soleil qui m'a brûlée 1987 Oxford: Heinemann; Librio, 1997, Tu t'appelleras Tanga, Stock, 1988, Seul le Diable le savait, Pré aux Clercs, 1990, La négresse rousse ; Éd. J'ai lu, 1997, Le petit prince de Belleville, A. Michel, 1992, Maman a un amant, Editions J'ai lu, 1993, —Grand Prize of Literature of Black AfricaAssèze l'Africaine, A. Michel, 1994, -- François Mauriac Prize of the Académie françaiseLettre d'une africaine à ses sœurs occidentales, Spengler, 1995Les Honneurs perdus, A. Michel, 1996, -- Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie françaiseLa petite fille du réverbère, Albin Michel, 1998, —Grand Prize of UnicefAmours sauvages Albin Michel, 1999, ; J'ai lu, 2000, Lettre d'une Afro-française à ses compatriotes, Mango, 2000, Comment cuisiner son mari à l'africaine, Albin Michel, 2000, Les arbres en parlent encore…, Librairie générale française, 2004, Femme nue, femme noire, Albin Michel, 2003, La plantation, Albin Michel, 2005, L'homme qui m'offrait le ciel: roman, Albin Michel, 2007, Le Roman de Pauline: roman, Paris, Albin Michel, 2009Les Lions indomptables, Paris, Albin Michel, 2010Le Christ selon l'Afrique, roman, Paris, Albin Michel, 2014English translations
- Loukoum: the 'little prince' of Belleville, Translator Marjolijn De Jager, Heinemann, 1995,
- The sun hath looked upon me, Translator Marjolijn De Jager, Heinemann, 1996,
- Your name shall be Tanga, Translator Marjolijn De Jager, Heinemann, 1996,
- How to Cook Your Husband the African Way, Translator David Cohen, Psychology News Press, 2016,