Toundi Ondoua, the rural African protagonist of Houseboy, encounters a world of prisms that cast beautiful but unobtainable glimmers, especially for a black youth in colonial Cameroon. Houseboy, written in the form of Toundi's captivating diary and translated from the original French, discloses his awe of the white world and a web of unpredictable experiences. Early on, he escapes his father's angry blows by seeking asylum with his benefactor, the local European priest who meets an untimely death. Toundi then becomes "the Chief European's 'boy'--the dog of the King." Toundi's attempt to fulfill a dream of advancement and improvement opens his eyes to troubling realities. Gradually, preconceptions of the Europeans come crashing down on him as he struggles with his identity, his place in society, and the changing culture. Other titles by African writers from Waveland Press: Ba, So Long a Letter (ISBN 9781577668060) Beti, The Poor Christ of Bomba (ISBN 9781577664185) Emecheta, Kehinde (ISBN 9781577664192) Equiano, Equiano's Travels (ISBN 9781577664871) Head, The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales (ISBN 9781478607601) Head, Maru (ISBN 9781478607618) Head,  When Rain Clouds Gather (ISBN 9781478607595) La Guma, In the Fog of the Seasons' End (ISBN 9781478600251) Marechera, The House of Hunger (ISBN 9781478604730) Mofolo, Chaka (ISBN 9781478607151) Ngugi-Mugo, The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (ISBN 9781478611318) Nwapa, Efuru (ISBN 9781478611011) Oyono, The Old Man and the Medal (ISBN 9781478609582) p'Bitek, Song of Lawino & Song of Ocol (ISBN 9781478604723) Plaatje, Mhudi (ISBN 9781478609575) Rifaat, Distant Views of a Minaret and Other Short Stories (ISBN 9781478611288)

Houseboy

Literature & Fiction

Ferdinand Oyono

Literary

Heinemann

Writing in French in the 1950s, Ferdinand Léopold Oyono (1929-2010) had only a brief literary career, but his anticolonialist novels are considered classics of twentieth-century African literature. Like Oyono's Houseboy, also available from Waveland Press, this novel fiercely satirizes the false pretenses of European colonial rule in Africa. Meka, a village elder, has always been loyal to the white man. It is with pride that he first hears he is to receive a medal. While waiting for the ceremony, however, Meka's pride gives way to skepticism. At the same time, his wife has realized that the medal is being given to her husband as compensation for the sacrifices they have made. The events following the ceremony confirm Meka's new estimation of the white man.
 Both subtle and oftentimes humorous, this beautifully told story lays bare the hollowness of the mission in Africa. It fuels opportunities for discussing colonial politics around class and race as well as for exploring indigenous Cameroon life and values.
 Other titles by African writers from Waveland Press:
 Ba, So Long a Letter (ISBN 9781577668060)
 Beti, The Poor Christ of Bomba (ISBN 9781577664185)
 Emecheta, Kehinde (ISBN 9781577664192)
 Equiano, Equiano's Travels (ISBN 9781577664871)
 Head, The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales (ISBN 9781478607601)
 Head, Maru (ISBN 9781478607618)
 Head, When Rain Clouds Gather (ISBN 9781478607595)
 La Guma, In the Fog of the Seasons' End (ISBN 9781478600251)
 Marechera, The House of Hunger (ISBN 9781478604730)
 Mofolo, Chaka (ISBN 9781478607151)
 Ngugi-Mugo, The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (ISBN 9781478611318)
 Nwapa, Efuru (ISBN 9781478611011)
 Oyono, Houseboy (ISBN 9781577669883)
 p'Bitek, Song of Lawino &amp; Song of Ocol (ISBN 9781478604723)
 Plaatje, Mhudi (ISBN 9781478609575)
 Rifaat, Distant Views of a Minaret and Other Short Stories (ISBN 9781478611288)

The Old Man and the Medal

Waveland Press. Inc.

Toundi Ondoua, the rural African protagonist of Houseboy, encounters a world of prisms that cast beautiful but unobtainable glimmers, especially for a black youth in colonial Cameroon. Houseboy, written in the form of Toundi's captivating diary and translated from the original French, discloses his awe of the white world and a web of unpredictable experiences. Early on, he escapes his father's angry blows by seeking asylum with his benefactor, the local European priest who meets an untimely death. Toundi then becomes "the Chief European's 'boy'--the dog of the King." Toundi's attempt to fulfill a dream of advancement and improvement opens his eyes to troubling realities. Gradually, preconceptions of the Europeans come crashing down on him as he struggles with his identity, his place in society, and the changing culture.
 Other titles by African writers from Waveland Press:
 Ba, So Long a Letter (ISBN 9781577668060)
 Beti, The Poor Christ of Bomba (ISBN 9781577664185)
 Emecheta, Kehinde (ISBN 9781577664192)
 Equiano, Equiano's Travels (ISBN 9781577664871)
 Head, The Collector of Treasures and Other Botswana Village Tales (ISBN 9781478607601)
 Head, Maru (ISBN 9781478607618)
 Head, When Rain Clouds Gather (ISBN 9781478607595)
 La Guma, In the Fog of the Seasons' End (ISBN 9781478600251)
 Marechera, The House of Hunger (ISBN 9781478604730)
 Mofolo, Chaka (ISBN 9781478607151)
 Ngugi-Mugo, The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (ISBN 9781478611318)
 Nwapa, Efuru (ISBN 9781478611011)
 Oyono, The Old Man and the Medal (ISBN 9781478609582)
 p'Bitek, Song of Lawino &amp; Song of Ocol (ISBN 9781478604723)
 Plaatje, Mhudi (ISBN 9781478609575)
 Rifaat, Distant Views of a Minaret and Other Short Stories (ISBN 9781478611288)

Chemin D Europe (French Edition)

French and European Publications Inc

Le Vieux Negre Et La Medaille

Schoenhofsforeign Books Inc

Une vie de boy

Presses pocket

Une Vie De Boy

Reference

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Presse Pocket

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Books by Ferdinand Oyono