Think of Lampedusa

Think of Lampedusa
	The island of Lampedusa
Author	Josué Guébo
Original title	Songe à Lampedusa
Translator	Todd Fredson
Country	Ivory Coast
Language	French, English
Series	African poetry book
Genre	Poetry
Publisher	University of Nebraska
Publication date	2014
Published in English	2017
Pages	90
ISBN	9781496200426
Preceded by	My country, tonight
Followed by	L'ombre du pont

Think of Lampedusa is a collection of serial poems by Josué Guébo, published in french in 2014, translated in English in 2017 by Todd Fredson with an introduction by John Keene. The book received the Tchicaya U Tam'si Prize for African Poetry in 2014.

Theme

The main theme of Think of Lampedusa refers to the 2013 shipwreck of some 500 African migrants near the Italian island of Lampedusa, that killed 366 persons[1]. The book deals, on this basis, with the massive emigration of African youth to Europe[2]. It describes the reasons for emigration, the conditions under which journeys are made and the often dramatic consequences of these adventures. The poet, using both mythological and historical elements, questions in this work complex realities about the nature of man and his identity.

Summary

Think of Lampedusa is the story of hundreds of young people, of various religions, who leave from Libya, Somalia, Eritrea or Mali towards Europe and most of whom perish during the crossing. Those who escape the depths of the ocean and reach the island of Lampedusa, will face the electric fence of hate.

It is also, through time and space, a rewrite with a touch of irony, the Iliad as well as the Odyssey and in a general way, the myth of Ulysses.

Style

Think of Lampedusa is a collection of poems that presents itself as a single text. The work appears as a verse for a story and therefore holds both poetry and narration. It uses in places, anaphora and allegories.

The author presents memories but also expectations through a hike that leads him through sea, dream, raft, anxiety and sinking.

Literary prize

Tchicaya U Tam'si Prize for African Poetry, 2014.

Publication

Songe à Lampedusa, Silex/Nouvelles du Sud, 2014 ISBN 9782912717702
Songe à Lampedusa, Fondation du forum d'Assilah, 2014 ISBN 978-9954-33-943-5
Think of Lampedusa, African Poetry Book, 2017 ISBN 9781496200426

gollark: I mean, those things aren't quite as meaningful as one would hope nowadays, but it's more than North Korea.

gollark: Much more freedom of information going in/out, too.

gollark: You can leave the US, you at least... can say bad things about the government a bit, you can... have weapons, you're less likely to be randomly imprisoned, sort of thing.

gollark: ... *really*?

gollark: ... North Korea did, presumably?

References

"Prix de poésie Tchicaya U Tam'si, L'Ivoirien Josué Guébo remporte à Assilah l'édition 2014". lematin.ma (in French). 17 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
E. Massiga FAYE (20 August 2014). "Prix Tchicaya U Tam'si de la poésie africaine : Lauréat, Josué Guébo sur les traces des aînés". Le Soleil Online (in French). Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.

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[1] "Prix de poésie Tchicaya U Tam'si, L'Ivoirien Josué Guébo remporte à Assilah l'édition 2014". lematin.ma (in French). 17 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.

[2] E. Massiga FAYE (20 August 2014). "Prix Tchicaya U Tam'si de la poésie africaine : Lauréat, Josué Guébo sur les traces des aînés". Le Soleil Online (in French). Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.