The French and Francophone Studies Dept at Macalester invites you in the context of our lecture series to :
Hollywood, Pirated Videos and Child Soldiers, Dr. Emmanuel Dongala
Wednesday, February 16
4:45 PM
Humanities 401
Professor Dongala, winner of "best French novel of 2010," will discuss his personal experience with child soldiers in the Congo Republic during the civil war, which took place from 1997-2000. Starting from a fateful encounter he had with children at a roadblock they were controlling, he will discuss why and how these kids turned into child soldiers. He will explore the impact of Hollywood movies and satellite TV on child soldiers. He will also discuss the current state of ex-child soldiers.
Dongala received a BA in Chemistry from Oberlin College, an MA from Rutgers University and a PhD in Organic Chemistry in France. Dongala returned to Congo and worked as a teacher and dean of Academic Affairs until 1998, when he was forced to leave after a bitter civil war. Helped by his friend the writer Philip Roth, he now lives in the US. He teaches chemistry at Bard College at Simon's Rock where he holds the Richard B. Fisher Chair in Natural Sciences and leads a seminar in African Francophone literature.
Dongala, who writes in French, has published five novels, a collection of short stories and a play. His books have been translated into a dozen languages. His essays and articles have appeared in major newspapers and magazines including ' Liberation', 'Le Monde', 'The New York Times', and 'Transition'. His novel, Johnny Mad Dog, published in the USA in 2002, was selected by the Los Angeles Times Book Review as one of the best books of the year. The film made from the book was released in 2006. His latest novel, (not yet translated) ''Photo de groupe au bord du fleuve'' published last April was named "best French novel of 2010" by the literary magazine LIRE.
