#EnClaveAfro: African and Diasporic Literature in Spanish with a Gender Perspective

In Senegal, Spanish has gained increasing significance as a foreign language within academic, cultural, and commercial contexts. While French remains the dominant language for education and official communication, the growing process of globalisation and the strengthening of economic and cultural relations with Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Latin America and Spain, have sparked a rising interest in learning Spanish. Furthermore, initiatives such as the opening of the Instituto Cervantes in Dakar—the first in Sub-Saharan Africa—underscore the population’s enthusiasm for the language.

From a gender perspective, Mujeres por África argues that reading women is essential to enrich our understanding of the world and dismantle the dominant narratives that have, for centuries, silenced their voices. Female writers not only provide us with unique perspectives on universal themes but also shed light on experiences that have often been ignored or marginalized. Reading women is not just an act of literary justice; it is a gateway to a deeper and more equitable understanding of our society.

General Objective: To foster Hispanism and Spanish literature written by women. This initiative serves as both an educational and didactic resource, as well as a source of leisure, available to Spanish departments at universities, students, and individuals with knowledge of the language.

Specific Objective: The goal of this literary section is to promote Afro-descendant literature in Spanish as a cultural bridge between the African continent and its diaspora in Latin America and other Spanish-speaking regions. This will not only enrich the educational experience of students studying Hispanic philology, translation, and interpretation, but also amplify the perspectives and worldviews of women.

 The aim is to promote:

Cultural Enrichment: Students will have the opportunity to engage with works that reflect the experiences and perspectives of African and Afro-descendant women. This will not only broaden their cultural horizons but also contribute to the formation of global citizens with a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the world.

Promotion of Diversity: This initiative is also in line with our commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in academia. Acknowledging and celebrating African and Afro-descendant literature written by women is a crucial step towards fostering inclusivity and promoting equity.

To date, our curated selection of literature has been incorporated into the libraries of the Spanish departments at Cheikh Anta Diop and Gaston Berger universities in Senegal, as well as the library of the Instituto Cervantes in Dakar and the Afrothèque project.

List of Works Comprising the Library to Date:

“Ekomo” , María Nsue Angüe

“Mujeres africanas”, Remei Sipi Mayo

“Tierra de la luz”

“Hija del camino”, Lucia Asué Mbomio

“Ser mujer negra en España”, Desirée Bela-Lobedde Boleche

“Ponte a punto para el antirracismo”, Desirée Bela-Lobedde

“Como nosotros”, Marisa Mañana

“Metamba Miago” – Relatos y saberes de Mujeres Afroespañolas, Deborah EKoka

“Hija de inmigrantes”,  Safia El Aaddam

“¿Es España racista?”, Safia El Aaddam

“Yo no quería ser madre”, Melibea Obono

“La Bastarda”, Trifonia Melibea Obono

“Madera de eucalipto quemada”, Ennatu Domingo Soler

“Todos tenemos una historia que contar”, Bisila Bokoko

“Sollozos de mujer, esperanza de corazón”, Anita Hichaicoto Topapori

“Voces Negras”, Tania Safura Adam Mogne

“Poemas de estirpe”, Laura Victoria Valencia

“Una decisión difícil”, Adelaida Ondua Casaña

“Fiebre de carnaval”, Yuliana Ortiz Ruano

“Canciones desde el fin del mundo”, Yuliana Ortiz Ruano

“Mis madres son estrellas”, Carolina Nvé

“Viviendo en modo Afroféminas”, Antoinette Torres Soler

“La familia – Curvas y rectas”, Maria Paz Mba Memba

“Y a pesar de todo, aquí estoy”, Asaari Bibang

“Grafito”, Esther M. Andrade