#cw: female excision child abuse abandonment sexism violence domestic violence bullying illness circumcision

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The Little Peul by Mariama Barry

You know that you belong to a very hierarchical society— there are trials you have to undergo at each sage in order to go from one level to the next. I might even say from one world to another.

The Little Peul by Mariama Barry is a coming-of-age autofiction of a girl who is part of the widespread African Peul (Fula) people of which Guinea and Senegal have significant populations. The novel gaining notoriety for the opening scene of female excision, however, has a rich story and (feminist) themes to offer. Barry captures well the mind of a child and both the gulf and bridges between worlds. While so much abuse, suffering and oppression is normalized, fortunately the Little Peul possess an indomitable spirit. Published in French in 2000 the text as well incorporates several languages. The English edition, translated by Carrol F. Coates as part of the CARAF Books line, contains many footnotes and a glossary while retaining some French or for English infrequent spellings. There is also an afterword entitled “To Be Born a Woman” by Professor Irène Assiba d’Almeida, who may be familiar from the Francophone African poetry anthology A Rain of Words. A lovely package anyone interested in African Women’s writing should appreciate to get to know Mariama Barry’s work.

  The Little Peul by Mariama Barry is available in English, translated by Carrol F. Coates, in print from University of Virginia Press

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