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| Senegalese writer Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, center, speaks during a meeting with Korean readers at the National Library of Korea in southern Seoul, Friday. On the left is moderator Kim Bo-hyun, a French language and literature professor at Korea University, and right is interpreter Pyun Hye-won, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation. Courtesy of National Library of Korea |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Senegalese writer Mohamed Mbougar Sarr is a rising star in African literature who won the 2021 Prix Goncourt, one of the most prestigious French literary awards, for his novel "The Most Secret Memory of Men."
Sarr visited Korea last week as part of the French Embassy in Korea's Goncourt Choice 2022-2023 program, promoting French-language literature here. It also coincided with the annual Francophonie Week in Seoul.
Ambassador of France to Korea Philippe Lefort said a Senegalese novelist writing in French truly symbolizes the global nature of Francophonie during a meeting between Sarr and Korean readers at the National Library of Korea in southern Seoul, Friday.
"If you hadn't already, I highly recommend reading this enigmatic piece, written with such grace and energy. You will experience how different cultures intersect in his works," Lefort said.
Senegalese Ambassador Abdou Salam Diallo said Sarr writes in the language of colonization, but he delved into his soul, detailing his struggles, his yearning for hope and freedom and his search for inner peace.
"It is always a pleasure to listen to writers because they tell the story of humanity. That's why when we write, we're never writing for ourselves, but for every man, every woman, every culture beyond any one country and race," Diallo said.
"I am delighted to welcome Sarr to Seoul today and engage with the French-speaking community here as we discuss his literary creations."
The Senegalese author expressed delight at his book reaching Korea, a country that holds a special place in his heart due to his home country's historic qualification for the 2002 World Cup held jointly in Korea and Japan.
Sarr said the "quest for the absolute" is a universal pursuit among writers.
"The quest for the absolute has always been a question that's been running through me and I've chosen writing as a way of approaching it. Other people may find other ways to do that, but for me it is through writing and that's the way I feel like I need to do it," the novelist said.
"There is no such thing as 'I have to achieve the goal of this quest.' What matters is what I sacrifice on this journey and what I find and I think that's what literature exists for."
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| Senegalese writer Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, center, speaks during a meeting with Korean readers at the National Library of Korea in southern Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of National Library of Korea |
Upon becoming the first Sub-Saharan African to win the French literary award in 2021, Sarr faced controversies related to his use of the language of colonialism in literature.
"Paris is the center of Francophone literature, but that is changing. Literature is also subject to the logic of political power. I think there are certain symbols of literary progress and we shouldn't be discouraged or give up," he said.
In response to being asked if he plans to write for Senegalese readers in their native languages of Wolof or Serer, Sarr expressed his aspiration to do so in the future.
"I've been thinking for a long time that one day I'd like to write in Wolof or Serer. However, it's a complex matter because in Senegal, French is the language that students first learn to read and write in," he said.
"When you speak Serer comes out naturally, but when you write, French is the first language that comes out naturally, because that's the language you're educated in. Even though Serer is my mother tongue, I have to relearn it if I want to write in it."
Sarr recognizes the ongoing debate surrounding language in literature, but believes different languages could contribute to a more diverse literary landscape.
"I don't think French is the enemy of Wolof or Serer, but I think they coexist with each other. I think it is good for writers to be able to choose different languages and they're not antagonistic choices," he said.
"If I could wake up one day and think about what language I'm going to write in today, I'd be very happy. I think (different languages) can work together."
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