French Literature Reviews - 2026
C. Cosker, Anthology of Francophone Literature of Mayotte, Vol. 1: The Elders
Francophone and Oral Literatures
Christophe Cosker, Anthology of Francophone Literature of Mayotte,
volume 1, "The Elders",
L'Harmattan, 2018. EAN13: 9782343145686.
Francophone literature is experiencing a true emergence in Mayotte. Following a theoretical introduction that contextualizes this anthology, the reader is invited to discover the island's literature through excerpts from about fifteen writers who may be regarded as "the Elders": Youssouf Saïd, Nassur Attoumani, Mansour Kamardine, Mihidjaé Maliki, Mahamoud Azihary, Salim Mouhoutar, Madi Haladi, Ousseni Maandhui, Séline Soula, Abdou Salam Baco, Saïd Ahamadi, Soulaimana Noussoura, Ali Maandhui, and Mohamed Moindjié. A second volume dedicated to modern writers follows.
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Holding a PhD in Francophone Literatures from the University of Western Brittany (UBO), Christophe Cosker currently teaches at the University Center for Training and Research of Mayotte (CUFR) as a PRCE. A close reader of writers from the Perfume Island, he has previously published an essay dedicated to them: A Brief History of Francophone Literature in Mayotte (Paris, Anibwé, 2015).
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Introduction: The emergence of Francophone literature in
Mayotte .............................................................................. 13
I YOUSSOUF SAÏD (1943 – present) ......................... 41
The Colonization of Mayotte ................................................. 42
The Cadi and Justice ................................................................. 45
Man and Animal .......................................................................... 48
II NASSUR ATTOUMANI (1954 – present) ............... 53
Departmentalizing the Perfume Island ...................................... 56
The Apologue of the Rooster ...................................................... 58
First Autobiographical Short Story ................................. 62
III MANSOUR KAMARDINE
(1959 – present) ............................................................. 67
The Two Cadis ............................................................................. 68
The Two Schools ........................................................................... 70
The Two Garments ................................................................. 72
IV MIHIDJAÉ MALIKI, known as "Djébé" (1959 –
present) ................................................................................ 75
Portrait of a Young Girl .............................................................. 75
The "Bath of Writings" ................................................................ 77
The Distance Between Anjouan and Mayotte .......................... 78
V MAHAMOUD AZIHARY (1959 – present) .......... 81
Against the (Ma)fundi(s) ............................................................ 82
A Stinking Press ........................................................................... 84
Sub-France ................................................................................... 87
VI SALIM MOUHOUTAR, known as "Bouba" (1960 –
present) ................................................................................ 91
Cradle and Grave ......................................................................... 92
The Mahoran Burial ..................................................................... 94
"Soroda" and "Shake-Hands" ..................................................... 97
VII MADI HALADI (1963 – present) ........................ 101
The Sack ....................................................................................... 101
Selected Proverbs ....................................................................... 104
Proverb of a Proverb .................................................................. 105
VIII OUSSENI MAANDHUI
(1964 – present) ............................................................ 107
Beliefs of Mayotte ....................................................................... 107
The Color of Prejudice ................................................................ 109
The Riddle Ritual ....................................................................... 113
IX SÉLINE SOULA (1965 – present) ........................ 117
Landing in Mayotte ................................................................... 119
"The Mango Season" .................................................................. 121
The Scarlet Stain ......................................................................... 124
X ABDOU SALAM BACO or ABDOU BACO
MAMBO (1965 – present) ............................................. 127
A Fairy Tale ................................................................................ 131
Bana's Sentimental Education ................................................... 133
"See Réunion and Die" ............................................................. 135
XI SAÏD AHAMADI, known as "Raos" (1967 –
present) ................................................................................ 139
The First Colonization of Mayotte .......................................... 140
Resolving a Mysterious Disappearance ................................... 144
The Mirror of Francophone Literature in Mayotte ................ 148
XII SOULAIMANA NOUSSOURA ........................ 153
(1967 – present) ............................................................ 153
The High Point of a Colloquium ............................................. 154
Words as Heritage ...................................................................... 156
Meeting with Jacques Chirac .................................................... 158
XIII ALI MAANDHUI (1968 – present) .................... 161
The Dance of Mayotte ............................................................... 161
In Search of Words .................................................................... 163
Zakia Madi Guiding the People ................................................ 165
XIV MOHAMED MOINDJIÉ
(1969 – present) ............................................................ 169
Introspection .............................................................................. 170
Ethnography of Power ............................................................... 171
Double Agents ........................................................................... 174
Bibliography .................................................................... 177
Table of Contents ........................................................... 187
Francophone literary studies frequently examine how regional and island identities articulate themselves within broader linguistic and cultural spheres. The literary history of the Indian Ocean region involves complex exchanges between local traditions and the French language. Within this wider context, the archipelago of Comoros and particularly the island of Mayotte have developed distinct textual practices that reflect unique historical, social, and administrative trajectories. Anthologies serve a foundational role in mapping such emerging literatures, documenting how local writers address their specific cultural landscapes and institutional realities.
This volume presents excerpts from about fifteen writers who may be regarded as the elders of Mahoran writing, preceded by a theoretical introduction that contextualizes the selection. The featured authors include Youssouf Saïd, Nassur Attoumani, Mansour Kamardine, Mihidjaé Maliki, Mahamoud Azihary, Salim Mouhoutar, Madi Haladi, Ousseni Maandhui, Séline Soula, Abdou Salam Baco, Saïd Ahamadi, Soulaimana Noussoura, Ali Maandhui, and Mohamed Moindjié. Readers interested in regional Francophone traditions and the development of Mahoran literature may find this documentary collection informative.