Clémentine Faïk-Nzuji Explained

Clémentine Faïk-Nzuji Madiya (born Clémentine Nzuji, 21 January 1944), is a Congolese poet and writer. She was born in Tshofa, Kabinda District in the Belgian Congo.^[1] Albert S. Gérard calls her "the first poet of real significance" among a group of African writers who emerged in the late 1960s; she was also the first female writer in the Belgian Congo.^[2]

Background and early life

She graduated from Lovanium University.^[3]

She also holds a doctorate in African studies from the University of Paris.^[1]

Nzuji is married and is the mother of five children,^[1] and many of her poems refer to her family.^[2]

Literary activities

In 1964,^[4] she founded the Pléiade du Congo, a literary group in Kinshasa,^{[2] [5]} and headed and helped found the International Centre for African Languages, Literatures and Traditions in favour of Development (CILTADE) at the Catholic University of Louvain.^[5] She has made important contributions in the study of Bantu linguistics and oral literature.^[6] She is also an award-winning author of short stories and poetry.

Bibliography

• Murmures [Whispers] . Kinshasa: Lettres Congolaises, 1968. (15p.). Poetry.
• Kasalà. Kinshasa: Editions Mandore, 1969. (45p.). Poetry.
• Le temps des amants [The Time of Lovers]. Kinshasa: Editions Mandore, 1969. (54p.). Poetry.
• Énigmes lubas = Nshinga : étude structurale. Kinshasa: Éditions de l'Université Lovanium, 1970. (169p.). Riddles^[7]
• Lianes [The Creepers]. Kinshasa: Editions du Mont noir, 1971. (Series Jeune littérature no. 4) (31p.). Poetry.
• Lenga et autres contes d'inspiration traditionnelle [Lenga and other traditional stories. Lubumbashi: Editions Saint-Paul Afrique, 1976. (80p.). Tales. *''Gestes interrompus'' [Broken deeds]. Lubumbashi: Editions Mandore, 1976. (49p.). (n.p.). Poetry.
• Cité de l'abondance [City of Abundance]. Unpublished. Won the only prize at the 1986 annual Competition of the Overseas Royal Academy, Brussels. Short story.
• Frisson de la mémoire [A ripple of memory] in Cluzeau Fiancée à vendre et treize autres nouvelles [A fiancée for sale and thirteen other short stories]. Saint-Maur: SEPIA, 1993. (pp. 203–229). Short story.
• Tracing Memory. A Glossary of Graphic Signs and Symbols in African Art and Culture, Canadian Museum of Civilization—Hull/Louvain-la-Neuve, International Centre for African Languages, Literature and Tradition.

Further reading

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Notes and References

1. http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/AFLIT/NzujiClementineEng.html University of West Australia bio
2. .
3. .
4. Web site: Clémentine Faïk-Nzuji. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323190502/http://www.faik-nzuji.com:80/initiatives/5-creation-de-la-pleiade-du-congo.html . 23 March 2019 .
5. .
6. .
7. Book: Énigmes lubas = Nshinga : étude structurale. www.worldcat.org. WorldCat . 1086752. 26 October 2016.