Reading Group on De purs hommes by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
Thu 16 AprThis reading group is dedicated to Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, a prominent Senegalese writer who studied philosophy and literature in France. He gained immediate recognition with his fourth novel The secret memory of Men as he became the first Sub-Saharan African to be awarded the Goncourt prize in 2021. Note that the author will not be present to discuss the novel.
In the reading group—launching the three-session cycle dedicated to issues of gender and portrayal of masculinities— Mohamed Mbougar Sarr’s third novel Pure Men (2018) deals with prejudice and violence surrounding homosexuality in Senegal, where it is still illegal to be openly gay. The novel opens with the image of a viral video in Senegal, where the corpse of a man is dug up by a crowd and dragged out of a cemetery. Upon watching the video, the young literature professor Ndéné Gueye finds himself disappointed with teaching and the moral hypocrisy of his society.
He becomes obsessed with the video and finding out more about the man and reasons why his body was exhumed. During his quest for truth, Ndéné Gueye faces prejudice that might turn against him. In the light of recent events testifying to growing homophobia in Senegal and in Africa at large, not only does the protagonist’ quest mirror society’s intolerance of otherness, but it can also enlighten the reader on the challenges of gender representation in contemporary fiction.
If you want to borrow the book at the library, please find the information below
