Jean-Luc Raharimanana's visit at Princeton will include a performance blending music and text during which he will play the marovany, a traditional Malagasy instrument. It will be followed by a conversation (in French) about his works, mainly Tisser (Montréal, Mémoire d’Encrier, 2021), discussing issues such as the concept of weaving as a way to understand collective histories, the processes of artistic creation, the political power of utopia, and the disruption of generic and linguistic boundaries. This roundtable will be moderated by Murielle Perrier, Raphaël Piguet, Clara Soucanh and Jordan Coty Eloundou Ndongo. 

Biography

Born in Madagascar, novelist, poet, playwright, musician and editor Jean-Luc Raharimanana is currently a resident artist in the “Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence” at the University of Bayreuth (Germany), affiliated with its “Reconfiguring African Studies” cluster. He has published 19 books to date, many of which have been translated in English, Italian, Spanish and German. His work has received several awards, including the Grand Prix Littéraire de Madagascar (1998) and the Prix Jacques Lacarrière (2018). He participated in the creation of the Festival Plumes d’Afrique in 2002 and co-founded Project’îles Éditions in 2021. As a screenwriter, he also co-wrote among others the film Red Island (2023). A multidisciplinary artist, Raharimanana regularly performs in a wide range of events, giving lectures, masterclasses and workshops on Francophone cultures. 

Disclaimer

“Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any event does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented.”