The Old Man and the Medal

The Old Man and the Medal (Le vieux nègre et la médaille) is a 1956 postcolonial novel by Cameroonian diplomat and writer Ferdinand Oyono.[1]

The Old Man and the Medal
AuthorFerdinand Oyono
Original titleLe vieux nègre et la médaille
TranslatorJohn Reed
CountryCameroon
LanguageEnglish
French
GenreNovel
Published1956
ISBN978-2-264-00962-3

The novel was translated into English by John Reed in 1967 and republished in 1969 in the influential Heinemann African Writers Series.

Plot edit

Meka, the main character, is an elderly villager who receives a medal from the French government for the donatation of land for a church, but also his two sons who are killed during the World War II. [2]

Analysis edit

The novel depicts the problematic relationship between loyal Africans, and their colonial masters.[2][3][4]

Bibliography edit

References edit

  1. ^ OGUNSANWO, OLATUBOSUN (1986-01-01). "The Narrative Voice in Two Novels of Ferdinand Oyono". English Studies in Africa. 29 (2): 97–120. doi:10.1080/00138398608690832. ISSN 0013-8398.
  2. ^ a b Adenekan, Shola (2010-06-30). "Ferdinand Oyono obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  3. ^ Nola, Bienvenu (2008-12-01). Le vieux nègre et la médaille: Essai d'analyse argumentative (in French). Editions L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2-296-21197-1.
  4. ^ Minyono-Nkodo, Mathieu François (1978). "Le Vieux nègre et la médaille" de Ferdinand Oyono (in French). les Classiques africains. ISBN 978-2-85049-131-3.