Senegalese Author Cheikh Hamidou Kane Dies At 98

Senegalese author Cheikh Hamidou Kane, a major figure in Francophone African literature, has died at the age of 98, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said.

Kane died on Saturday, according to Senegalese media reports.

“His works now belong to the heritage of our nation and to all Africa,” Faye said in a statement published on Facebook.

Kane was best known for his first novel, L’Aventure ambiguë (Ambiguous Adventure), published in 1961. The semi-autobiographical work tells the story of a young Senegalese Muslim caught between traditional values and Western education.

Faye said the novel gave generations of Africans a way to reflect on the challenge of embracing knowledge from around the world while preserving their identity.

Kane was born on April 2, 1928, in Matam in northeastern Senegal. He grew up receiving Quranic education alongside French schooling before travelling to Paris, where he studied law and philosophy.

Ambiguous Adventure was translated into 40 languages and became a classic of African literature, with the book taught in schools and universities.

Beyond literature, Kane held several public positions and served as a government minister in Senegal during the 1980s.

His death has prompted tributes from Senegalese officials and readers who regard his work as an important contribution to African literature and debates about cultural identity.

SOURCE: AFP