Fiston Mwanza Mujila crafts literature as a response to the political turbulence that has followed Congo's independence and its effect on daily life. His style, compared to luminaries like Fitzgerald, Céline, and García Márquez, explores the dynamics of life within his works. His writing delves into themes reflecting both his African heritage and his contemporary life in Austria. Readers can anticipate a powerful and poetic experience.
Fiston Mwanza Mujila introduces an innovative poetic form, showcasing his acclaimed talent as a poet and novelist. Known for his previous works such as Tram 83 and The Villain's Dance, he continues to explore profound themes and vibrant imagery in this new collection. Readers can expect a unique blend of rhythm and language that reflects his distinct voice and cultural insights.
"The Democratic Republic of Congo, otherwise known as Congo-Kinshasa or DRCongo, has had a series of names since its founding. The name of Zaire best corresponds to the experience of the novel's characters. The years of Mobutu's regime were filled with utopias, dreams, fantasies and other uncontrolled desires for social redemption, the quest for easy enrichment and the desecration of places of power. Among these events: Zairians' immigration to Angola during the civil war boycotting the borders inherited from colonization, as if the country did not have its own diamonds, and the occupation of public places by children from outside. The author creates the atmosphere of the time through a roundup of characters: the diviner Tshiamuena, also known as Madonna of the Cafunfo mines, prides herself of being God with whoever is willing to listen to her. Franz Baumgartner, an apprentice writer originally from Austria and rumba lover, goes around the bars in search of material for his novel. Sanza, Le Blanc and other street children share information to the intelligence services when they are not living off begging and robbery. Djibril, taxi driver, only lives for reggae music. As soon as night falls, each character dances and plays his own role in a country mined by dictatorship"--
In his debut collection of poetry in English, the widely acclaimed author of Tram 83 returns to the Deep Vellum catalog with a moving lyric meditation on the Democratic Republic of Congo and its namesake river.
This anthology re-examines America's foreign policy legacy through stories that explore the human cost of these interventions on foreign soil, by writers from that soil.
This super cool cosplay costume planner is a must-have for anyone who loves to make costumes, whether you're a member of the theater at school, like to play dress up as a hobby, or headed to a fan convention! You will love this easy to use journal to track and record all your cosplay activities.
Fantastical short stories that catalog moments in love and the suffering it brings.
In a city in secession, land tourists of all nationalities seek their fortune by exploiting the mineral wealth of the country. They mine during the day in and, as soon as night falls, they abandon themselves in Tram 83, the city's only nightclub. Lucien, a writer, fleeing censorship, finds refuge there with his friend, Requiem, a thief. Tram 83 plunges the reader into the atmosphere of a gold rush as cynical as it is comic and colourfully exotic. It's an observation of human relationships in a world that has become a global village.