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Mariama Bâ
14quotes
Mariama Bâ: A Pioneering West African Writer
Full Name and Common Aliases
Mariama Bâ was a Senegalese writer known for her insightful and poignant writings on the lives of women in West Africa. Her full name is often written as Mariam Ba, reflecting the local pronunciation.
Birth and Death Dates
Born in 1929 in Kaolack, Senegal, Bâ's life was marked by both personal struggles and literary triumphs. She passed away in 1981 at the age of 52.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Mariama Bâ was a Senegalese writer, educator, and feminist activist. Her work as an author focused on exploring the experiences of women in West Africa, shedding light on their struggles, traditions, and aspirations.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Kaolack, Bâ's childhood was shaped by her Islamic upbringing and the rich cultural heritage of her community. Her early life also saw her experiencing the constraints imposed upon women in traditional Senegalese society. Despite these challenges, she pursued education with determination, eventually becoming a teacher.
Major Accomplishments
Bâ's most notable work is her novel _So Long a Letter_, which was first published in French as _Une si longue lettre_ in 1981. This book is considered one of the pioneering works of African women's literature and has been translated into many languages worldwide. It offers an intimate portrait of a woman's life, grappling with issues such as polygamy, identity, and personal freedom.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to _So Long a Letter_, Bâ also wrote other notable works, including the collection of short stories _The Future_. Her writings often explored themes that were taboo at the time, making her a trailblazer for women's voices in literature. Through her writing and activism, she aimed to empower African women by promoting education and challenging patriarchal norms.
Impact and Legacy
Mariama Bâ's influence extends far beyond her native Senegal. Her work has been celebrated globally for its nuanced portrayal of the lives of West African women. She is remembered not only as a pioneering writer but also as an advocate for feminist causes, inspiring generations of writers and activists to follow in her footsteps.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Bâ's quotes are frequently cited due to their insight into the complexities of traditional society and the struggles faced by women. Her writing often spoke directly to the personal experiences of African women, offering a mirror to their lives and aspirations. As a result, she has become an iconic figure in African literature, celebrated for her courage in addressing topics that were previously silenced or stigmatized.
Mariama Bâ's legacy is a testament to the power of literature as a tool for social change. Through her writing, she gave voice to the silenced, advocated for education and equality, and paved the way for future generations of women writers and activists. Her work continues to inspire readers worldwide with its timeless insights into the human experience.
Quotes by Mariama Bâ
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A nervous breakdown waits around the corner for anyone who lets himself wallow in bitterness. Little by little, it takes over your whole being.
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A woman should marry the man who loves her, but never the one that she loves; that is the secret of lasting happiness.
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Assiatou, your father knew all the rites that protect the working of gold, the metal of the djinns. Each profession has its code, known only to the initiated and transmitted from father to son. As soon as your elder brothers left the huts of the circumcised, they moved into this particular world, the whole compound's source of nourishment.
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Daba was furious, her pride wounded. She repeated all the nicknames Binetou had given her father: old man, pot-belly, sugar-daddy! . . . the person who gave her life had been daily ridiculed and he accepted it. An overwhelming anger raged inside Daba. She knew that her best friend was sincere in what she said. But what can a child do, faced with a furious mother shouting about her hunger and her thirst to live?Binetou, like many others, was a lamb slaughtered on the altar of affluence.
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Because, being the first pioneers of the promotion of African women, there were very few of us. Men would call us scatter-brained. Others labelled us devils. But many wanted to possess us. How many dreams did we nourish hopelessly that could have been fulfilled as lasting happiness and that we abandoned to embrace others, those that have burst miserably like soap bubbles, leaving us empty-handed?
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And also, one is a mother in order to understand the inexplicable. One is a mother to lighten the darkness. One is a mother to shield when lightning streaks the night, when thunder shakes the earth, when mud bogs one down. One is a mother in order to love without beginning or end.
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Each life has its share of heroism, an obscure heroism, born of abdication, of renunciation and acceptance under the merciless whip of fate.
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Aunty Nabou acknowledged man's vulnerability in the face of the eternity of nature. By its very duration, nature defies time and takes its revenge on man.
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