The African Child by Camara Laye

The African Child is an autobiographical novel that recounts the formative years of Camara Laye growing up in Kouroussa, in what was then French Guinea. Written with lyrical, nostalgic prose, Laye paints a vivid picture of traditional Mandinka family life, the fusion of spiritual beliefs and customs, and the bittersweet journey from childhood into adolescence. Through events like initiation rites, schooling in both indigenous and colonial systems, and relationships with family members, friends, and first love, the narrative charts a young boy’s awakening to identity, culture, and the tension between tradition and modernity.