Customer Reviews

The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy

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Camara Laye was one of the first sub-saharan writers to become well-known outside of Africa. "L'Enfant Noir" or "The Dark Child" (also titled "The African Child"?) was published in 1953 when the author was twenty-five and living in France. It is a pleasantly nostalgic memoir of a childhood spent in the town of Kouroussa (French Guinea, now Guinea) and the village of Tindican, his mother's birthplace. Chapter by chapter Camara recounts his childhood memories: his father's work as a goldsmith and his position in society, his parent's magic, village life, the rice harvest, elementary Koranic education, circumcision and young men's secret society, secondary education in Conakry, girls and courtship, and his departure to continue his studies in France. After almost half a century in print, this deserves to be called a classic. [Note: some authorities state that his family name is Camara (also spelled Kamara) and his given name is Laye; the text supports this at one point. If using search engines to look for information on this author it may be useful to try both versions of his name.]

A beautifully textured, fluid and organic autobiography, Camara Laye offers readers a piece of his life in The Dark Child. As part of the Malinke community in Upper Guinea, Laye captures the layered tradition and culture of his community, deemed, perhaps by most, to be simplistic or primitive compared to today's modern standards. Yet it is exactly from Layes descriptions of the traditions of his community that we can begin to understand the psychology of the author. Each chapter is rich with imagery, and his words smack of sincerity and innocence, bringing about an effortless quality and flow to his work--it is as if we are there with Laye experiencing his many transitions, from boyhood to manhood. His descriptions of the communal lifestyle of his people is remarkable. Laye's works like other modern African authors reveal the realities of colonization, and help readers to appreciate and celebrate indigenous African traditions.

I first got this book in junior high by a family friend but never bothered to read it until I entered high school. Not having anything to read, I took it upon myself to read the book. I found myself intrigued by the author's way of life during colonialism and his upbringing in a village and his graduation from high school. It was sad that one of his classmates died unexpectedly. Wanting to find out some more about this author I looked up a book of African authors. Unfortuately he passed away in 1980. He is a great writer and wished that I had read it soon as it was given to me.

The Dark Child also known as "The African Child" is a childhood account of a Guinean writer, Camara Laye. In the very sentimental book the author writes about his childhood in Kouroussa, a village in Guinea. He credits his father for his foresight in giving him a western education despite knowing that their ties will be altered soon. He writes lovingly about his mother for her excessive protection as he embarked into adulthood and also his doting grandmother who viewed her grandson as above faults. His father realizing the changing environment of Africa opted to send his son to school instead of spending time in the forge. His mother on the other hand is tearful when Laye departs to France for a study leave. He also writes about his friendship with Fanta on their way to school. As a grownup man living with his uncle in Conakry, he developes a relationship with a half-caste lady, Marie Lorifo.

The African Child replaced The Narrow Path by Francis Selormey as my favorite African autobiography.

When Laye returned back from France, he married Marie Lorifo. But his life took a drastic turn later on in the sixties when he went on exile to Senegal to escape Sekou Toure. His parents died during his years in Dakar. His wife was unjustly imprisoned for seven years by Toure while arriving at the Guinean airport to visit her ailing dad. When she was released seven years later, she divorced Laye because he had married a second wife. Theirs is the saddest love story that I have read and I cant understand why such tragedies would have befallen one of my favorite authors. Laye died in 80.

Echoing the writeup of one of the reviewers, I ask in a similar vein, "Must every book written in Africa deal with the negative influence of colonialism"? Reason why I asked this is that Laye's novel was savagely and unjustly attacked by some of his contemporaries in Africa.

Another great read is So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba.

A 1st person look at village life in Africa. A boy must choose between his family and school. The story of Camara Laye and his life in Karoussa and Conakry. Rituals of a people.

I took the time to read all your reviews on books you said were garbage (can't belive u included Things Fall Apart). One advice, change your major, drop those classes and write your own book. Be sure to make up your own words, and I hope to hear about you winning a Nobel Prize. This book depicts his life in Africa growing up and the reason while it is still in print after about 6 decades is because it brings back memories to most Africans who read the book. Even though it is specifically about some boy, a lot of individuals can relate to it.

I'm a teacher in Seattle. I require my students to read both Nectar in a Sieve AND Things Fall Apart. So, it seems possible that you were one of my students. If so, I'm sorry you didn't pay attention in class. Both of these novels are classics and deserve better than you've given them here. The fact that you don't see value in something does not mean it is without value. You might want to ponder that for a bit.

Laye offers a compelling portrait of what life was like, for him, in the early 20th century French colony of Guinea. It offers vivid detail about life, social customs, village relations and the like, as well as an interesting exploration of the significant differences between village life and city life. Some have criticized Laye for offering an overly romanticized

It was a colony where the French had privileged status and the black Guineans were second class citizens and forced labor used. But Laye can't be reproached for writing about what he lived and what he saw; perhaps a more political work would've been less biographical. Must every memoir be political?

If you haven't read the review previously posted by the above said, you might find reading it before reading this review to your avail. I would first like to say that I am a sophomore in high school, and have read The Dark Child for an honors english project. You use words that were probably brought to you by using a thesaurus and referring from a more basic word of the same meaning. YOUR writing is very choppy. I am taking the following STRAIGHT from your review, and would LOVE to hear what is wrong with it: "...you will be put off by the poor writing and the utter directionlessness of this book...". can YOU tell me what is wrong with this?! I'm assuming, with the utmost belief that you are a complete idiot, that you DO NOT see the error of your ways, when in HELL did "directionlessness" become a word?!?! I mean, come on! You obviously are not too bright, and I don't think that you could possibly write, in such an elementary fashion, your opinion that, "...you will be put off by the poor writing and the utter directionlessness of this book..." I also think that you completely missed the point of your teacher giving you the assignment. She gave you the assigment to give you an example of literature coming from a place where not too many authors are known. It's a different point of view on the world, but obviously you are too simple minded to understand what the author has gone through. This book is a fine example of the pride that these people have in their lands and customs. The author has captured the very emotions of the people. He shows the reader the difference in the people's beliefs and priorities. He helps you to be able to put yourself in his shoes, and understand why he believes what he believes and why he does what he does. I think this book is very well written, and a very good story.

It took nearly three weeks to get the book. The book was in ok condition. I was just upset with how long it took for me to get the book.