Devan Joseph, Hannah Schiff, Julianna Twiggs Xala Sembene Ousmane Devan Joseph, Hannah Schiff, Julianna Twiggs

Background: Author Ousmane Sembene  was born on January 1, 1923 in Ziguinchor, Senegal to a Muslim Wolof family Attended both Islamic and French school His formal education doesn't extend beyond middle school. He was expelled after a confrontation with the principal Drafted into the French army after WWII Worked on the docks of Marseilles where he became a trade union activist. Took up filmmaking in 1960's because he believed he would be able to reach a larger audience Became a member fo the French communist party in 1950 Created first African film "Black Girl (1965)"     

Background: History Senegal’s Independence 1958 Senegal became an autonomous republic within the French Community January 1959: Senegal joined with the Sudanese Republic (former French Sudan, now Mali) to form the Mali Federation. June of 1960: Mali Federation became independent August 20, 1960: Senegal withdrew from the Federation and became an independent state, still within the French Community.  

Background: History Senegal’s first president was Léopold Senghor. Graduated from the University of Paris Worked as a professor in the University of Tours and the University of Paris from 1935-1945 Elected on September 5, 1960 Headed the Senegalese Progressive Union which became Senegal’s only political party. Senghor was reelected in 1968 and 1973 Ideology was based off of Négritude movement and African Socialism. In relation to Senegalese society he denied the Marxist ideals of class analysis. Emphasized the importance of the state as the main agent of development and nation-building. 

Background: History Class Struggles: Mid 1960’s: Unrest over the growing disparities between the French educated African intellectuals and the rest of the Senegalese population. The intellectuals saw the state as the main agent for transforming society, showed little interest in Islam and popular culture- this kept them isolated and out of touch with the Senegalese people. French is the official language of Senegal, though it is only spoken by the educated minority. Wolof is the largest ethnic group within Senegal (of 12) it is comprised of over one third of the population.   Economic Issues: 1960s: Senegal’s economy tanked when the world price of peanuts fell and they were no longer receiving economic aid from France. Long-term drought in the Sahel region of North Senegal that lasted from the late 1960’s into the mid 1970’s General Unrest: Major demonstrations and strikes became almost an annual occurrence and were particularly disruptive in 1968, 1971, and 1973 1968: Student protests were directed against the Senegalese Progressive Union’s monopoly of power and the regime’s submission to the French.

Background: Culture Pre-Colonization: -Islam to Senegal in the 11th Century -Islamic law and customary laws shape culture -Women subservient to men, but still have important household roles   Colonization: -French law and Islamic law mix and create an extreme patriarchal society -Women's roles degraded/Women deprived of basic rights -New power dynamic between French law/Islamic law make women voiceless to violence against them Post-Colonization: -1972 Family Code     -Polygamy remains legal     -Male status/power much greater than female      -Husband defined as head of family -Legal system convoluted; men do not feel they will be caught if violent against women

Discussion Questions What does El Hadji’s character represent in the bigger picture? His Xala? What is the political statement Ousmane is attempting to make through this novel? What is the significance of the beggar’s uprising at the end of the novel? What role does language play in this novel? (Wolof vs. French) What part of Senegalese culture/history does each of the three wives represent?  El Hadji’s absence as a father is mentioned briefly in the novel.  What effect if any do you think this had on El Hadji’s children? Christianity v. Islam is a reoccurring motif in the novel, what do you think Ousmane is trying to address regarding this matter?

Works Cited Burrill, Emily S., Richard L. Roberts, and Elizabeth Thornberry. Domestic Violence and the Law in Colonial and Postcolonial. Athens: Ohio University, 2010. Print. http://english.emory.edu/Bahri/Sembene.html Geller, Sheldon. Democracy in Senegal: Tocquevillian analytics in Africa. Palgrave         Macmillan: New York, 2005. Print. http://genderindex.org/country/senegal http://www.goethe.de/ges/pok/prj/akt/wlt/afr/sen/en3382762.htm http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0819652.html#ixzz1Z10JLiF6     http://www.law.emory.edu/ifl/legal/senegal.htm http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/sgadjigo/page1/page1.html http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/world/africa/11iht-obits.4.6097737.html?pagewanted=1 http://tvmultiversity.blogspot.com/2011/03/interview-with-ousmane-sembene.html