Jeune Afrique · 27 September 2024 · Written interview
In this interview with Jeune Afrique, Véronique Tadjo discusses her novel I Thank the Night, which reflects on the traumatic 2010–2011 post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire. She explores the deep-seated fractures between different social groups and the persistent lack of meaningful dialogue across these divides. Tadjo examines how literature can confront difficult histories and the role of memory in understanding national conflict. The conversation highlights her commitment to addressing complex social realities through fiction, focusing on the human impact of political instability. By revisiting this period of Ivorian history, Tadjo emphasizes the urgent need for reconciliation and mutual understanding in a fragmented society.