SOLONGALETTERbyMar

iam Ba
SUMMARYANDANAYLSI
S

GENERALOVERVI EW OFTHEBOOK
SoLongaLet terbegi nswhenRamat oul aye,aSenegal esewomanl ivingi nDakar ,t he
count ry’ scapi tal ,deci dest owr iteal et tert oherol df riendAi ssat ou,whol ivesi n
Amer i
ca.Thel ett eri soccasi oned byt hesudden deat h ofModou,Ramat oulaye’s
estrangedhusband.I nkeepi ngwi thMusl i
m cust om,Ramat oulayemustobser vea
mi r
asse, afor t
y- dayper iodofi sol ati
onandmour ning.Overt hecour seoft hi sper i
odshe
keepsadi ary,whi chsheevent ual lyint endst osendt oAi ssat ou.Ramat oul ayebegi nsby
refl
ect i
ngont hel ongf uner alpr oceedi ngsf oll
owi ngModou’ sdeat h.Senegal ese- Musl i
m
customsdi ctatet hatRamat oul ayeser veasahostt oal lthemour ner sandwel l-wisher s,
openi ng herhouset ot hem and pr ovi di ng t hem wi thf ood and dr ink.Thi sst r ikes
Ramat oulayeasagr avei njustice,asModou,i nhi sfinalyear s,want ednot hingt odo
withher .Themour ner svi rtuallysackherhouse,andt hought heybr inggi fts—most l
y
banknot es—t hemostoft hem endupi nt hehandsofModou’ ssecondwi fe,Bi net ou,
andhergr eedymot her( LadyMot her-in- Law) .
Ramat oulayegoesont or eflectonhermar riaget oModou.Shecannotunder standwhat
l
edhi mt ol osei nt eresti nher .Thei rf irstyear st ogether ,assweet hear tsandt henasa
young mar ried coupl e,seemed hopef ul.Theymar ried despi tet hepr otest ationsof
Ramt oulaye’ sf ami ly,whosawModouassomet hingofal oaf .Inherdi ar ysheadmi ts
thatt heywer er ight ,andwonder swhy,despi t
ehereducat ion,shechosehi m overt he
mor esensi bleopt ion— DaoudaDi eng, anol derandmor eest abli
shed, financi al l
yst abl e
man.
Aissat ou’ smar riage,l ikeRamat oul aye’ s,al sodi sint egrat ed.Ar oundt het imet hat
Ramat oulayemar riedModou,Ai ssat oumar ri
edMawdo,amedi calst udentandover all
modelci tizen.Thet wower egr eat l
yi nl ove.However ,Mawdoi sofnobl ebi rth,whi l
e
Aissat oui smer elyt hedaught erofagol dsmi t
h.Mawdo’ sf ami l
y—i npar ticularhi s
mot her ,Aunt yNabou—obj ectedt ot heuni on.I nanef fortt ounder mi net hemar riage,
Aunt y Nabou t ravel ed t o herancest ralhomet own and convi nced herbr othert o
reli
nqui shoneofhi sdaught ers—Aunt yNabou’ snamesake—t ohercar e.Aunt yNabou
proceededt or aiseandpr eenyoung
Nabou.Then,whent hegi rlwasofpr operage,Aunt yNaboubeggedMawdot ot ake
young Nabou ashi ssecond wi f
e.Mawdo,f ear i
ng t hathi smot herwoul d become
distressedandf al lillifhedecl ined,agr eed.Heassur edAi ssat out hathedi dnotl ove
youngNabou,butheal sohadchi ldr enwi thher .Aissat oucoul dnotacceptt hisand
divorcedhi m.Shef ocusedonhereducat ion,r eceivedadegr eei ndi pl omacy,and
movedt oAmer icat owor ki ntheSenegal eseembassy.
Meanwhi l
e, Ramat oul ayewasendur ingherownmar it
almi sfor t
une.Herdaught er
Dababef r
iendedagi rlnameBi net ou.Bi net ouspokeof tenofa“ sugardaddy, ”anol der
manwhoboughthercl othes.Af terawhi le,Bi netou’sf ami lybegant opr essur eheri nto
l
eavi nghereducat ionbehi ndandmar ryi ngt hemanf orhi smoney.Bi net our eluctant l
y
agreed.Ramat oul ayewasdi sappoi nt edbyt hisnews,butnotot her wi sesuspi cious.
Somedaysl ater , Mawdo, Modou’ sbr ot her
Tamsi r,andal ocalI mam appear edatRamat oulaye’ shouse.Toget hert heyi nfor
med
hert hatBi netou’ ssugardaddywasi nfactRamat oulaye’ shusbandModou,andt hat
Binetouwoul dsoonbeherco- wi f
e.
Ramat oulayewasl efthear t
brokenandef f
ectivelyabandonedasModoubegananew
l
ifewi thBi netou.Despi tet his,shedeci dedt or emai nmar ri
edt oModou,accept ingher
fateasi fi
twer eadut yt ofulfil
l.Herchi ldrenpr otested,butsher emai nedst eadfast.
Now Modouhasdi ed,andRamat oulayemustnavi gatet hest rangesi tuationofbei ng
forcedt omour nf oramanwhoabandonedher .Ashermi rassedr awst oacl ose,sheis
appr oachedbyTamsi r
,whoannouncest hathewi l
lmar ryher .Ramat oulayei sdeepl y
offendedbyhi scr asspr oposal ,
andt ell
shi m of finfrontofMawdoandt heI mam.Lat er,
DaoudaDi engpr oposest oher .Thoughhedoessowi thconsi der ablymor etactthan
Tamsi r,Ramat oulayer ejectshi m aswel l.Sher esolvestof ocusheref fortsonr ai
sing
herchi ldren.
Thankst othei ncreasi nglypr eval
entf orcesofmoder nity,Ramat oulaye’ sadol escent
childrenbecomeexposedt oahostofnewdanger s,danger sf r
om whi chshef eelsthey
mustbepr otected.Whi lepl ayingbasebal linthest r
eet,twoofRamat oul aye’ssonsar e
runoverandi njuredbyawaywar dmot orcycle.Shecat chest hreeofherdaught ers
smoki ng.
Aissat ou’ snamesakeget spr egnantoutofwedl ock.Ramat oulayer espondst oallof
thesecr i
seswi thstr ength, equani mity,andpoi se.
Ramat oulayeconcl udesherl ongl etterbyant i
cipatingAi ssatou’ si mpendi ngreturnto
Senegal .Shel ooksf orwar dt oseei ngherf r
iend,andt rustst hatdespi tet hephysi cal
changest hey’veendur ed, theirfri
endshi pwi l
lbest r
ongasever .

CHAPTERSUMMARYANDANALYSI
S

CHAPTER1
Ramat oulaye, thenarrator(livingi nDakar ,
Senegal ),
addr essesherf riend,
Aissatou,whol i
vesf araway,i nAmer ica.Ramat oul ayewr it
est hatshehasr eceived
Aissatou’sletterandt hat,bywayofr epl y,shehasdeci dedt owriteadi ary.Thi sdi ary,
shedeci des,wi l
lserveasa“ pr opin[ her ]distr
ess” —t houghshedoesn’ tyetr evealwhat
hascausedt hisdistress.Fi rstsher ecal l
sherchi ldhoodwi t
hAi ssat ou,l i
stingof fa
seri
esofdi screteimages:t het wooft hem wal ki ngal ongt hesamer oadt oKor anic
School ,
andt het wooft hem bur yingt heirbabyt eethi nt hesamehol e.
Thei mmedi atei nt
imacyofRamat oulaye’ saddr essest abli
sheshow cl oset heset wo
fr
iendsar e,andhowcl oset heyr emai ndespi t
et hephysi caldist
ancebet weent hem.At
fi
rstRamat oul aye’
spr omi set okeepadi arythatwi llal soserveasal ettert oAi ssatou
seemsl i
keacont radicti
on—onet ypi callythinksofadi aryaspr ivat e,andal ett
eras
i
nher entl
yshar ed.YetRamat oul aye’smemor i
esf rom t heirchil
dhoodt oget hermakesi t
cl
eart hatthet wof r
iendsshar eever ything—andt hust hisdiary/l
ettergi vest henoveli t
s
uniquef or
m.
Ramat oulayet henrevealst hecauseofherdi stress:“ Yest er
dayyouwer edi vorced,”she
writes,“todayIam awi dow. ” Ramat oulaye’sest r angedhusband,Modou,hasdi ed
suddenlyofahear tat t
ack.Ramat oulayedescr ibest oAi ssatout hephonecal lshe
recei vedinfor mingheroft henews, aswel lashert r
iptot hehospi tal,andherencount er
witht hebody.Sheexpl ainst hatMawdo,Modou’ sdoct orf r
iendandAi ssat
ou’ s
ex-husband, wascal ledtot hescenebutar r
ivedt oolate—al lhi sattempt stor esuscit
ate
Modou wer ef ornaught— and descr i
bes hi s sadness wi th a certaint enderness.
Distraughtandconf used,Ramat oul ayeseeksconsol ati
oni nr emember edver sesfrom
theKor an.
AlthoughRamat oul ayei sest rangedf rom Modou,sher eceivest henewsofhi sdeath
witht hesol emni ty,awe,anddevot iont hatherf ait
hdemands,andwi t
ht hegr i
efofa
l
ovi ngspouse.Si mi l
ar ly,
sheexpr esseshert ender nesstowar dMawdowi t
houtr estr
aint
,
despi t
e his est rangementf rom t he l et
ter’s addr essee,herf ri
end Ai ssatou.For
Ramat oul
aye,deat hi sasacr edmat ter,t
hegr avityofwhi chover comes( i
fonl yfora
moment )f eelings ofani mosi ty orr emor se.Her e we al so see t he st rength of
Ramat oul
aye’s I sl
ami cf ai
th,and t he way t hati tinf orms herl if
e,emot i
on,and
deci sion-maki ngonal mostever yl evel.

CHAPTER2
Thedayaf t
erModou ’ sdeat h,dr ovesofmour nersappearatRamat oul aye’shouset o
payt hei rrespect s.Modou’ scl oser elativesappearaswel l,andt hewomenamongt hem
helpmaket hef uner alpr eparat i
ons, bringi ngi ncense, hol ywat er,whi temusl in,anddar k
wr apper st ot hehospi t
alinor dert odr esst hebody.I naccor dancewi thcust om, Modou’
syoungsecondwi fe,Binetou,i si nst all
edi nRamat oulaye’ shouse,t or eceiveguest s
alongsi deher .Ramat oulayei sbot her edbyherpr esencebutul t
imat elyf eelspi t
yt owar d
thegi rl.Themal emour nersf or m af uner alpr ocessi onandaccompanyt hebodyt oi t
s
fi
nalr est i
ng pl ace,whi let he women st ay behi nd.Modou’s si ster sr itually undo
Ramat oul aye’sandBi netou’shai r.
Ramat oul aye’ sdescr i
ptionoft hef uner alpr epar ationsdemonst ratesj usthow much
cust om and t radi ti
on sat ur ate Senegal ese cul tur e and exper ience— f ur ther,i t
demonst rates t hat Senegal ese- Musl im r it
ual s t ypical l
y del ineat e di st
inct,
compl ement aryr olesf ormenandwomen.Ramat oul aye’ scompl exf eeli
ngst owar d
Binet ou, herco- wi fe, i
ncludebot hi ndi gnat ionathavi ngt oassoci atewi thherhusband’ s
secondwi feandaki ndofmat er nalf eeling—af teral l,Binet oui syoungenought obe
Ramat oul aye’sdaught er.
Cust om di ctatest hatRamat oul ayeser veasahospi tabl ehostt oModou’ sfami lyandt o
her co- wi fe ’s f ami l
y,pr ovidi ng t hem wi th f ood and l odgi ng and gener all
y
accommodat i
ngt hei reveryneed.Ramat oulayedr eadst hisr esponsi bilit
y,mostofal l
becausei tcal l
sonhert osur renderherper sonal i
tyanddi gni tyinthei nt erestofser ving
herest r
angedr elatives.Modou’ ssi ster sshowerpr aisesandwor dsofconsol ationover
Ramat oul aye and Bi netou ,but i t bot hers Ramat oul aye t hat t hey gi ve equal
consi der ation t o bot h— Bi net ou was mar r
ied to Modou f oronl yf ive year s,whi l
e
Ramat oul ayewasmar ri
edt ohi mf ort hi r
ty.Themenr eturnf rom t hef uner alpr ocessi on
andof fert heircondol encest ot hewomeni nahi ghl yr itualizedf ashion.
Inor dert osat isfyt hedemandsofcust om, Ramat oul ayemustessent i
al lyeraseher self,
renderher selft ranspar ent,andr educeher sel ftoanobj ecti nt heser viceofmen.The
factt hatsheandBi netour ecei vet hesameamountofat t
ent iononl yunder l
inest hef act
thatRamatoul
aye’
s“r
ole”astheaggrievedwif
ehas,intheeyesoft
heothermour
ner
s,
overwhel
medanyandallofheri
ndi
vidualchar
acter
ist
icsasahumanbeing.

CHAPTER3
Thef uneralcer emonycont i
nuesi nt oi tst hir
dday.Nowal lsor t
sofpeopl ecomeoutof
thewoodwor kt opayt hei rr espect sandmoochof ft hehospi talit
yoft heaggr ieved.
Ramat oulaye’ shousei sessent i
allyt rashedbyt hecr owd.Themenandwomenoccupy
differentsi desoft hepar lor;themenoccasi onal lyshoutoveratt hewoment ochast ise
them f orgossi pingl oudl yandnotshowi ngt hesol emni tyt hattheoccasi ondemands.
Manyoft heguest spr esentgi ftsofmoneyt oRamat oul ayeandt oModou’ sf ami ly.
Ramat oulayeexpl ainst hatt hesecust omar ygi ftsonceconsi st ed ofunquant ifiable
goods, suchasl ivest ockormi l
let,butnowever yonesi mpl ypr esent stheaggr i
evedwi th
banknot es, andt riest oone- upever yoneel sebygi vingt hemostcash.Thepr oceedsar e
divviedupamongRamat oulaye, Binet ouandherf ami l
y, andModou’ sfami l
y.
Binet ou’smot herandModou’ ssi stersgett hel ion’sshar e, l
eavi ngRamat oulayedest it
ute
i
ncompar ison.
Ramat oulayeexper iencesf i
rsthandt hemar keddi sconnectbet weent hepr emiseof
digni t
yonwhi cht hef uner alr i
tuali sf oundedandt hei ndigni t
yt hatt her i
tualact ually
cancr eate.Butwhi leshei sskept i
caloft het raditionsshei sexpect edt ofollow,shei s
alsonost al gicf ort raditi
onst hathavebeenabandonedorot her wisecor rupted:t he
exchangeofcashi nl ieuofact ualgi ftsst rikesherassomewhatappal l
ing.Theunequal
appor t
ioningoft hegi ftmoneybet weenherandherf ami l
y-in-l
aw onl yunder li
nest he
i
llogicofcust om f orcust om’ ssake,andt hewayevent raditionsofgener osityand
selflessnesscanbeeasi lyt wisted.
Final l
yBi net ouandt her elativesclearout ,leavingdest ructioni nt heirwake:
Ramat oulaye’ sf l
oor sar ebl ackenedandherwal lsar est ainedwi thoi l
,andt rashl itt
ers
thehouse.I nthei rabsence,Ramat oulayenow mustconf ronthermi rasse,aper iodof
fourmont hsandt endayst hatshemustspendi nsol i
tudeandmour ning, i
naccor dance
withcust om.Shei sappr ehensi vebutf acesher“ dut y”wi t
hr esol ve,wr i
ti
ngt hather
“hear tconcur swi tht hedemandsofr eligion.”
Despi tehercl earandout spokendi scomf ortwi thmanyoft hedemandsofherr eligion
andcul ture, Ramat oul ayei sdet ermi nedt omeett hem headonandoper atewi thi
nt hem,
rathert hanagai nstt hem.Thi sisoneoft hef irstgl i
mpsesofRamat oulaye’spar ticular
brandofst oicism andqui etcour age.

CHAPTER4
Themi r
assealsodemandst hat
Ramat oulayeandherf ami l
y-in-l
awmeett o“ st
ri
p”Modouandr evealthesecret shekept
during hislif
etime.Most lyt hisi nvol
veslaying bar
ehi sfinancialdebt s.I ti
st hen
revealedthatthechicvil
lainwhi chModouhadbeenl i
vingwith
BinetouandBi net
ou’smot herwasacqui r
edonabankl oanor i
ginallygrantedt oboth
ModouandRamat oul
aye.Event houghthedeedhasModou’ snameoni t
,Ramat oul
aye
essent i
all
yhelpedpayf orthehouse.However ,Modou’slavi
shtreatmentofBi net
ouand
hermot her— he paidf ort hei
rpi l
gri
mage t o Mecca,boughtt hem car s,and,t o
Ramat oul
aye’shor r
or,providedBi netouwithamont hl
yallowanceaf terpull
ingheroutof
school— hasl edthet wot ot hinkthattheyareguar anteedt hehouse.I tseemsalsothat
theyhavebegunf raudulentlyr emovingfurnit
urefrom t hehouse, evenbef oret
heestate
i
sset tl
ed.
Itbecomescl earthatModouhasusedhi sprivi
legedposi t
iontoexpl oitRamatoul
aye’s
fi
nancialindependence.Hi sf amilyint
endst opr olongt hisexploit
ationintothefuture,
andi tdoesn’ tseem likether ei smuchRamat oul ayecandoabouti t
.Ramat oul
aye’s
horroratBi netou’sremovalf rom schoolestablishesRamat oulayeassomeonewho
caresdeeplyabouteducat ion,par t
icul
arlyforyoungwomen,andoncemor ei
ll
ustr
ates
herconfli
ctedmat ernal f
eelingt owardheryoungco- wife.

CHAPTER5
Aloneagai nwi thherthought s,
Ramat oulayebecomesdi stressed.Shewonder swhatcoul dhavepossi blycaused
Modout oabandonher ,nott oment i
ont heirt welvechi ldr
en,i
nor dert omar rythe
17-year -
oldBi netou.Ramat oulayecompar esherf at
etot hatofthebl ind,disabled,and
destit
ut e,askinghowt hosei nwor sesi t
uationst hanher sf i
ndstr
engt h,mor alforti
tude,
andevenher oism inthei
rdisadvant ageanddi str
ess.
Liket hebl indandt hedi sabled,Ramat oulaye’sposi ti
onofsoci aldi sadvantagehas
everything t o do witht heci rcumst ancesofherbi r
th and nothing t o do wi t
h her
charact er.Herasser ti
ont hatt heblindcanst il
lacther oicall
yinquietways,wi thinthe
confinesoft heirsoci
etaldisadvantage, refl
ectsherownbr andofstoicf eminism.

CHAPTER6
Ramat oulayer ecal lsmeet ingModouf ort hef i
rstt i
me,whi l
eonat riptoat eacher s’
trai
ningcol legewi thAi ssat ou.Addr essingModoudi r
ect l
y,int hesecondper son,she
remember shi m aski nghert odanceandt heirensui ngr omance,whi chendur edeven
afterModouwentof ft
ost udyl aw inFr ance—Modou,sheexpl ains,f elthomesi ckand
l
onel ythewhol et i
mehewast here,andwr otet oherof ten.
Modou’ sdi ssatisfact i
oni nFr ancei l
lustratesaconundr um t hatt henf acedt heeducat ed
i
nSenegal :mostpat hwayst ohi ghereducat ional sodemandedassi mi l
ati
ontoFr ench
culture—t hati s,t hecul tureoft hecoloni zerandoppr essor .Separ ately,Ramat oul aye’ s
useofdi rectaddr essillustrateshercont inuedf eeli
ngsofi nti
macyt owardsModou,
evenaf t
erest rangementanddeat hhavesepar at
edt hem.
Uponhi sret urnt oSenegal ,Modouand
Ramat oulayepr epar edtomar r
y.Modoual soi ntroducedhi sfri
endMawdot o
Aissatou.Ramat oulaye’smot herwasskept i
calofherdaught er’schoi ce,however ,and
Ramat oulayenowunder standsherskept i
cism.Ramat oulayeandhermot herbel onged
tot hefirstgener ationsofwomenf i
ght i
ngf orempower menti nSenegal ,andhermot her
want edherdaught ertohaveahusbandt hatwoul dbeequalt oRamat oulaye’si ntellect
andambi t
ion.I tseemst hatbymar ryingModou,ani dler,Ramat oul ayesur render edher
freedom t oamanwhowasbeneat hher .Nowshehasnot hingt oshowf orit.
Ramat oulaye’ sdi sagreementwi thhermot herr aisesaquest iont hatvexest heent ire
novel:ar et raditionalf ami l
yl ife,rel
igiousmar ri
age,andmot herhoodf undament allyat
oddswithfemal
eempowerment?Doesawomansurr
enderessent
ialf
reedomsj
ustby
choosi
ngtomarry?Orj
ustbymarr
yingt
he“
wrong”ki
ndofperson?

CHAPTER7
Ramat oulayer emember swi thf ondnessherandAi ssat ou ’sFrench—whi chi stosay,
white—school t
eacher .Al lofherst udent scamef rom di ff
erentcul tur
eswi t
hinFr ench
WestAf r
ica,andshet r
eat edt hem al lequal l
y,andi nstil
leduniver salmoralval uesi n
them,li
f t
ingthem outoft he“ bogoft raditi
on, superstit
ion,andcust om. ”
Theaccept anceof feredt oRamat oul ayebyherschool teacherst andsi ncontrasttot he
ali
enationModouf eltinFr ance.Ramat oulaye’sadmi rati
onf ortheteacherdemonst rates
acer t
ainopt i
mi sm—af ait
ht hateducat ionandpr ogressdonothavet oi ncl
udet he
i
ndignityander asureoff or cedassi mi l
ationi ntothecul t
ureoft heoppr essor
.
Ramat oulayewonder swhy, despitehereducat i
on,shechoseModouoverDaouda
Dieng, anintelligent,mat ure,weal thydoct orwhot riedunsuccessf ull
ytocour ther.She
rej
ectedhi m agai nstt hewi shesofherpar ents,whosaw Daoudaast hemor est able,
practi
calopt i
on.
Atthet ime,Ramat oulaye’ srejectionofDaoudawasi nsomesenseanexpr essionof
empower mentandar ejectionoft r aditi
on.Butnow shewonder swhet heraccept inga
mor epracticalopt i
onmi ghthaveul timatelyof fer
edhergr eaterfr
eedomsi nthelongr un.

CHAPTER8
Ramat oul ayeshi f
tsherat tent iont o
Aissat ou’ scont roversialengagementt o
Mawdo.Ai ssat oui sofmodestbi rt
h—herf atheri sagol dsmi th—whi leMawdoi snobili
ty,
hismot hera“ Pr i
ncessoft heSi ne.”Int heeyesoft r
adi tioni twasat otalmi smat ch,and
atthet imeoft heengagementever yoneint owngossi pedangr ilyaboutt hescandal .
Thewi despr eadshocki nr esponset otheengagementdemonst ratesj usthowst r
onga
gri
pcust om hasoversoci alr elationsinSenegal , oratl eastt hepar t
soft hecount r
ythat
Bâdescr ibes.
Ramat oul ayet henusesAi ssat ou ’sfather ’spr ofessi ont odi scusssomeoft hebroader
socialchangeshappeni ngi nSenegal .Aissat ou’syoungerbr ot her swi l
lnott akeupt heir
father’s pr ofession,pur sui ng a West ern educat ion i nst ead.Whi l
e Ramat oulaye
acknowl edgest heimpor t
anceofeducat ion—shei saschool teacher ,af t
eral l—shei s
war yofover emphasi zingi t.Forone,educat ioni sst i
lllar gel yi naccessi blef orthepoor ,
andi nanycaseschool ingi snotnecessar ilyrightf orever yone.Whatwi l
lthedr opout s
do? Moder nizat i
on has begun t or ender obsol etet he t r adit
ionalcr aft
s— l i
ke
goldsmi t
hi ng—t hatwoul dot her wi seserveasal ternativest ot hosenotr eceivingahi gher
educat ion.Thi sconf l
ictbet weenmoder nizat i
onandt radi tioni san “et ernaldebat e,”
Ramat oul ayewr it
es.
Moder nizat i
oni snot ,Ramat oul ayesuggest s, auni versalgood.Whi leitisnecessar yf or
thepr ogr essofSenegalasanewl yindependentnat ion,i tal soseemst ocompr omise
i
mpor tantf acet sofSenegal’ scul t
urali dent ity.Whi leRamat oulayecannotof f
era
solutiont ot heconundr um, sheseemst osuggestt hatt he“ eter naldebat e”i simpor t
ant
topr eser ve—per hapst hesol utionl i
espar tlyint hever ypr ocessofdebat ing.
CHAPTER9
Ramat oulayeandAi ssat oumar rytheirfi
ancésar oundt hesamet ime, andt oget hert hey
enduret hej oysandf rust rationsoft heirnew mar itallif
e.Ramat oulayei spest ered
constantly by hermot her -in-law and si ster s-i
n-law,who day af terday dr op i n
unannounced and abuseherhospi tali
ty.Shei sal so exasper ated t o di scovert hat
despiteherpr ofessionall i
feasat eacher ,anddespi tet hehel pofaf ewmai ds, thebr unt
ofhousehol ddut iesst i
llf allt oher .ForAi ssat ou’ spar t
,herf ami l
y-in-l
aw doesnot
respecther, andbar elyacknowl edgesherexi stence.
Modou’ sfami l
y’scar elesst r eat mentofRamat oulayei saf orm ofobj ectification—i nt heir
eyesshei sl ittl
emor et hanapr oviderofser vice.Evenherpr ofessionalsuccesscannot
saveherf rom t her oleassi gned t o herbycust om.Ramat oulayeand Ai ssat ou’ s
fri
endshippr ovidet hem wi thanescape,however .Wi tht hei
rspousesandi n-lawst hey
enduret heiroppr essionsi lent ly,butwi theachot hert heycanexpr esst heirf rust rat i
on
openly.
Intheirpreciousf reetimet oget her ,
Ramat oulayeand Ai ssat ou t akel ong wal kst oget heral ong thecoastand r elaxi n
Aissatou’sbeaut i
fulhome.Theyf i
ndsol acei nnat ureandt heopenai r.Theyf indsol ace,
too,intheirpr ofessi onall ives.Theyar ebot hschool teachers,andt hesat i
sf actiont hey
derivefrom hel pingyoungchi ldr enisincompar abl etoanyt hi
ngt heyf eelathome.
Theopennessandnat ur albeaut yoft hecoastst andsi nshar pcont rastt ot heconf ines
ofthehome.Agai nstt hecl aimsofcust om andt radi t
ion,Ramat oul ayeandAi ssat ou
fi
ndmor efulf i
ll
menti nt heirf riendshi pandpr of essiont hantheirconvent ional l
y“ sacr ed”
househol ddut iesaswi ves.

CHAPTER10
Modour isest othet opr anksoft het r
adeuni onforwhichhewor ks.Meanwhi le,Senegal
i
si nthemi dstofachi evingi t
si ndependence.Debat eovert her ightpathf orward—how
bestt oshedt hehi storyofcol oni alexploit
ati
onandbr i
nganew r epublicintobei ng—
gripsthecount r
y.
Ramat oul aye sees hergener ati
on as occupyi ng a privil
eged butdi ffi
cultposi t
ion
betweent wodi st
incter as.Modoul eadshi stradeuni oni ntocol laborati
onwi t
ht he
government .He i s skept i
cal ,however ,oft he hast y est ablishmentoft oo many
embassi es, whichheseesasanunnecessar ydrainonSenegal ’
spr eciousresour ces.
Ramat oul ayeandt hosear oundherf eelpersonall
yi nvest edi nt hepol i
ti
caldebat es
takingplace, andt hepat hbef oret hem issomewhatf raught .Modou’ sskept icism ofthe
embassi es i l
lustr
ates one oft he bi ggestdi l
emmas f acing i ndependentSenegal :
moder nizationseemst odemandpar ti
cipati
oninani ncr easi nglyglobaleconomy,and
yetdoi ngsoal soseemst ocomeatt heexpenseofi nter nalst abil
ity(andof tenatt he
expenseofSenegal ’suni quecul t
ur e,atleastwhen “global i
zat i
on”meansassi milat
ion
i
nt oanoppr essiveWest erncul ture).

CHAPTER11
Whil
eadmi
tt
ingt
hatshemustber
eopeni
ngol
dwoundsf
orherf
ri
end,
Ramat oulayepr oceedst odescr ibethebr eakupofAi ssatou ’ smar r
iage.Sheexpl ains
thatMawdo’ smot her,Aissatou’s“Aunt yNabou, ”simpl ycoul dnotacceptt hatherson
hadmar ri
edawomanofl owbi r
th.Nabour esol vest ovisitherbr other ,
Far baDi ouf,whoi sacust omar ychi efinDi akhao,ar uraltownf ari nland.Afteral ong
j
our neyshevi sit
st hetombofhernobl eancest ors,whi chi sl ocat edi nthet own,and
paysherr espectst her
e.Naboui sreceivedi nherbr other ’
shousel i
keaqueen:shei s
servedt hechoi cestbitsofmeat ,andr elativesf r
om al lovert hear eacomet ovisi
ther .
Towar dtheendofhervi sit,shet el
lsherbr othert hatsheneedsachi ldbyhersi de—her
childrenhavemar ri
edandherhousei snow empt y.Far ba,hear ingt his,immedi ately
offerst osur renderhisowndaught er,Nabou’ snamesake, toNabou’ scar e.Aunt yNabou
returnshomewi t
ht heyoungNaboui ntow.
Nabou’ ssymbol i
cjourneyt othecount r
y’sinteriorislikeaj ourneybacki nt i
me:ther ural
townofDi akhaoi sstillver ymuchundert hespel loft raditi
on,unl ikecosmopol i
tan
Dakar .Andwhi lether it
ualsNabour ehear sest herear eant i
quat ed,Ramat oulayest il
l
descr i
best hem wi thadegr eeofaweandr espect —t heyar esomewhatbeaut if
uland
power ful,eveni ftheyul ti
mat el
yqui ckenAi ssatou’ sper sonalt r
oubl es.St i
ll
,theease
withwhi chFar baof fer
suphi syoungdaught eriscertainlyappal l
ing.Shehasnosayi n
themat ter,andi sexchangedl i
keamer ecommodi t
y.I t’
sal sowor thnot ingthatAunt y
Nabou,awoman,hasi nternali
zedt hesexi staspect sofhercul tureseemi nglyasmuch
asanyman, andf eelsnoqual msaboutaccept i
ngherni ecesol elyasanobj ect.

CHAPTER12
UnderAunt yNabou’ sguar dianshi p,andwi t
ht hehel pofRamat oul aye, young
Naboui senr ol
ledi naFr enchschoolandaf teraf ewyear sbecomesami dwi f
e.Oneday,
Aunt yNabousummonsMawdoandt ellshi mt hatFar bahasof feredyoungNabout o
Mawdoasawi fe.Aunt yNaboui mplor esMawdot oaccept —ifhedoesn’ t,shesays, she
willsur elydi eofshame.Mawdot akest hist ohear t,andagr eest omar ryyoungNabou.
Thewhol ecommuni tylear nsaboutt hi sbef ore
Aissat oudoes.Rel uct antl
yMawdobr eakst henewst oher,t
elli
nghert hathei sagr eeing
tot hemar ri
ageonl yt oappeasehi smot her—hedoesnotl oveyoungNabou.Ai ssat ou
goesal ongwi tht hisf orawhi l
e,butwhenMawdobegi nstohavechi ldrenwi thyoung
Nabou,Ai ssatoul eaves,l eavinghi m al ett
er —whi chRamat oul ayer eproducesf ort he
reader —expl ainingi ndi rectt ermst hatshecannotaccepthi sdeci sion.
Whi leatf irstitseemst hatMawdomai nt ai
nsanent i
rel
ypr acticalvi ewofhi smar r i
age
totheyoungNabou,hi sact ions—namel y,havi ngchi ldr
enwi thhi snewwi f
e—under cut
hiscl aimst opragmat ism.Mawdot ellsAi ssat ouhi sdeci si
oni samat terofpr inciple,not
passi on,andyetAi ssat ou’ suncompr omi singandi mpassionedr eject i
onofhi mi st he
mostpr i
ncipleddeci sionper hapsi nthewhol enovel .Ramat oulaye’ srol einallofthi s—i n
thebackgr ound,neveri nterveningont hepar tofei therMawdoorAi ssat ou—i l
lustrat es
hermor econser vat i
veandr eservedt endenci es.
Now f reeofhermar riage,Ai ssatout urnst obooks,andbegi nst aki nghereducat i
on
seriousl y.Ramat oul ayeadmi rest hisgr eatly.Ai ssat oureturnst oschool ,receivesa
degr ee i ni nterpretation,and get saj ob att he Senegal ese embassy i n Amer ica.
Meanwhi l
e,Mawdof i
ndshi msel fdi ssat i
sfiedwi thNabou.Shedoesnotkeepupt he
housei nt hewayAi ssatou had,and shei sconst antlyr eceiving visi
torsf rom her
homet own.I nlett
ersMawdobegsAi ssatout or eturn,butsher efuses.Despi tehis
misery,Mawdocont i
nuest ohavechi ldrenwi thNabou.WhenRamat oulayeconf ront
s
him aboutthis,Mawdocanonl yexplainhi msel fwi thacr udeanal ogy:hei sast arvi
ng
man, andNaboui st henear estpl
ateoff ood.Thisdi sgust sRamat oulaye.
Aissatou flouri
shes out si
de the conf ines of mar riage and cust om,embr aci
ng
moder ni
sm andeducat i
onandgoi ngsof arastol eavet heent ir
ecount r
ybehi nd.Forhis
part,Mawdo mi sses Ai ssatou f
orr easons t hathave not hi
ng t o do wi th herand
everythi
ngt odowi thherabi l
it
yt oser vehim.Ramat oul aye’sdi sgustatMawdo’ s
analogydemonst r
atesnotj ustasol idarit
ywi thAi ssat oubutal sowi t
hNabou,who
throughoutthewhol eor dealhasneverbeent r
eat edasmor et hanj ustanobj ect.

CHAPTER13
Ramat oul aye now deci des t or ecountherown mar italmi sfortune.Hert eenaged
daught er,Daba,begi nst ospendal otoft imewi thaf riendBi netou;t ogethert heyar e
preparingf orast andar dizedt est .
Modouof tenof ferst odr iveBi net ouhomeaf tert hest udysessi ons.Bi net ouwear s
expensi vedr esseswhi ch,sheexpl ai
ns,havebeen pai df orbya “sugardaddy.”
Ramat oul ayedoesn’ tthinkmuchoft hisunt il
,oneday,Dabaexpl ainst hatthe “ sugar
daddy”want st omar ryBi netou.Ramat oul ayet ellsDabat hatBi netou’seducat i
oni sf ar
mor eimpor t
ant ,andt hatsheshoul dn’ tcutshor theryout hsi mpl ybecausear ichman
want st omar ryher .ThoughBi net ouagr ees,shecannotconvi nceherf ami l
y,whoar e
attr
actedt ot he“ sugardaddy’ s”money.Sher eluct ant l
yaccept shi smar ri
agepr oposal .
Ramat oul aye’semphasi soneducat ion, andherwi shf orasuccessf ulfutureforBi net ou,
seemst obedr i
veni npar tbyAi ssat ou’ ssuccessaf terl eavingMawdo.Ramat oulaye
knowsf ir
sthandhowdi ffi
cul ti tis,inSenegal esesoci ety,f orawi fet omai ntainbot ha
homeandapr ofessi onall if
e.Bi netou’ ssubmi ssi ont oherf ami ly’sdemandsomi nousl y
echoesMawdo’ ssubmi ssiont oAunt yNabou’ sdemands—i tseemst hatt heol der
generat i
onof tenf orcest hei rfami l
ymember st ocont inuewi thi
nt heconf inesofst ri
ctor
outdatedcust oms.
Ont hedayt hatBi net oui st obemar riedt ohersugardaddy, Modou’ sbr other
Tamsi r, Mawdo, andal ocali mam appearatRamat oul aye’ shouse.Modoui snowher e
tobeseen.Af tersomedawdl ingandbeat i
ngar oundt hebush, t
het hreemenannounce
thereasonf ort hei rvi si
t:Modou,i tt urnsout ,i
sBi net ou’ ssugardaddy,andt odayhei s
taki
ngherashi ssecondwi fe.Themenexpr esst hei rsuppor toft hemar ri
age,whi ch
theyseeasamat terofGod’ swi ll,thoughMawdo,evi dent lyremember i
ngAi ssat ou ’ s
reacti
on t o hi s own second mar riage,seems subdued.Ramat oulaye i s ofcour se
shockedandupset —suddenl yal lofModou’ sabsencesi nr ecentmont hsbegi nt omake
sense—yetshemai ntainshercomposur e,smiling, thanki ngt hemen, andof f
er i
ngt hem
somet hingt odr ink.
Thef ormal it
yoft heexchange,whi lesupposedl ycust omar y,comesof fasr idiculous
andcowar dly,at ot albr eakdownofr espect fulcommuni cation—Modoucan’ teven
confronthi swi fehi msel f.Dependi ngonhowyoul ookati t
,Ramat oul aye’sst oicism i n
thefaceoft hisabsur ddevel opmenti sei thertragi corempower ed.Att hever yl east, i
t’s
cl
eart
hatmai
ntai
ninghercomposur
eandof
fer
ingt
hesemenhospi
tal
it
yisnoeasyf
eat
.

CHAPTER14
Daba, whowasal sokepti nt hedar kaboutt het ruei dent i
tyofBi net ou’ ssugardaddy, i
s
i
nf ur iated, andi mpl or esRamat oulayet ol eaveModouj ustl i
keAi ssat oul eft
Mawdo.Ramat oul aye’ snei ghbor ,Far mat a,al soencour agesRamat oul ayet ol eave.
Far mat ai sagr iot, aki ndoff ortunet eller, andshei nformsRamat oul ayet hatherf uture
i
ncl udesl aught erandanewhusband.Ramat oul ayer eject st hesepr edi ctions,however
—shet hinksshei st oool dt oat tractt heat tent i
onofanewman, andwor riest hati fshe
wer et ol eaveModoushewoul dl iveoutt her estofherl i
fei nl onel iness.I ncreasi ngly
distr aught ,shef indsher selfdescendi ngi nt oaner vousbr eakdown.
Modou’ sabandonmentofRamat oul ayehasl eftherunabl et oi magi net hatanymanwi ll
findherat tractivei nt hef uture.Herst eadf astr ef usalt oactonDaba’ sandFar mat a’s
advi cei satoncet ragicandsomewhati mpr essi ve—i tmi ghtbear guedt hatshei s
asser tingaki ndofi ndependence, rejectingt hei deat hatsher equi r
esamani nherl ifeat
all.
Bywayofi l
lustratingherowndi stress,
Ramat oul ayet el l
st hest or yofheracquai ntance,Jacquel ine.Jacquel ine,apr otestant
from Coi ted’ I
voi r
e, mar r
ies
SambaDi ack, af riendofMawdo’ s.Jacquel inei snotusedt oSenegal esecust oms.She
i
st reat edl ikeanout si
der ,andi sshockedwhenSambabegi nschasi ngaf terot her
women—r elati
vel yst andar dbehavi orf orSenegal esehusbands.Di st ressed,shebegi ns
exper ienci ngal lmannerofphysi calpai n, whi chnodoct orcandi agnose.Sheunder goes
ahostofx- raysandi nvasivet ests, butt henat ureofheri llnessr emai nsamyst ery—t hat
i
s,unt iladoct ordi agnosesherwi thdepr essi on.Thedi agnosi sal onehel psJacquel i
ne
gr eat l
y.Now t hatsheknowst hesour ceofheri llness,shet urnsherener giesi nwar d,
and begi ns to over come herdepr ession.Taki ng hear ti nt his st ory,Ramat oul aye
resol vest oconf ronthersuf feringhead- on.Shedeci dest or emai nmar riedt oModou
—i nhervi ew, thedi gni fi
edsol ut i
on.
ForJacquel i
neand,t her eadercanassume,Ramat oulaye,ment alpai nmani festsi tself
asphysi calpai n—apot entr emi nderoft het ollt hatt heconst antst ressofoppr essi on
takesont hebody.Theconcl usi onRamat oul ayedr awsf rom Jacquel ine’ sst or yis
cer tainl ycount erintui ti
ve:sheseemst osuggestt hathersuf feringi smor eamat terof
att i
tude t han ci rcumst ance.Whet hert hi s concl usion shoul d be appl auded i sl eft
somewhatambi guousbyBâ.Separ ately, Jacquel ine’sst or yillust r
at esapol i
ticalr ealit
y
thati sof tenover lookedi nt heWest :justhowdi ver seAf ri
ca’ snat ionsandcul turesar e.

CHAPTER15
Ramatoulayecompar esandcont r
asts
NabouandBi net
ou.Naboui sful
lofpoiseandt act
,thanksinparttoAuntyNabou ’s
i
ntenseinvolvementinhermor aleducati
on.Herjobatamat er
nit
yhomei sdif
fi
cul
tand
of
tenfrustrati
ng,butNaboui saf ighter
,andint hi
swayRamat oul
ayeseesherasa
ki
ndredspirit.I
ncont r
ast,Ramatoulayefeel
saki ndofpi t
yforBinetou.Trappedina
marri
agesheneverwant ed,Bi
netoucant ol
erat
eherlif
eonlybymaki ngModoudyehi s
hair ,dr essyoungert hanhi sage,andl avishmoneyonher .SomeofRamat oulaye’s
fri
ends,hor r
if
ied by Modou’s behavi or,suggestt hatshe st age a super natural
i
nt er vent i
on,usingl ovepot ionsorspi ri
tualmedi umst obr eakupt hemar r
iage.However ,
Ramat oulayer ejectsthesesuggest ionsasi r r
ati
onal .
Wher easRamat oulayef eelsaki ndofpar all
elf eeli
ngt owar dNabou—t heyar ebot h
wor ki ngwomenst ruggli
ngt or econci l
et heirhomel if
ewi ththeirwor kinglife—shef eel
s
somet hingclosert oamat ernalfeelingt owar dBi netou.Ramat oul aye’srejectionofher
fri
ends’suggest i
onsconst it
utesar ejecti
onoft heol dways,ar ejecti
onofsuper sti
ti
on
i
nf avorofaki ndofbr ut
alandr esignedr ationalism.
Inst ead,Ramat oulayer esolvest o “l ookr eal i
tyi nt hef ace.” Assheexpl ai
ns,r eal
ity
consi stsofLadyMot her-
in-Law( Binet ou ’smot her )li
vingapamper ed,“gilded”l ifeon
Modou’ sdime.I tal so consistsoft heodd coupl e,Modou and Bi netou,goi ng to
night cl
ubsanddanci ngawkwar dl
y,toever yoneel se’sdelightandembar rassment .
Nei therBi net
ounorhermot herareseemi nglyatal lint
er est
edi nModou;t heyar eonl y
i
nt er estedi nhismoney.

CHAPTER16
Ast imegoeson, Ramat oul ayef indst hatwhatherchi ldrenor iginallybeggedhert odo—
toleaveModou—i snowf unct ional l
yt hecase, asModouseemst ohavel ostallinterest
i
nmai ntai ningevent hesembl anceofar elat
ionshi pwi thher .Whi l
eRamat oulayedi d
notmaket hischoi cef orher self,shel earnst ocopewi thandevenenj oyhernewf ound
i
ndependence.Bei ngasi nglepar enttot welvechi l
dreni snoeasyf eat ,however .Money
i
st ight ,andshemustmakecer taincompr omi ses,suchasmaki ngherchi l
dr enr ide
publict ranspor t, whil
eBi net ouand
LadyMot her-in-Lawdr ivear oundi naf ancynewcar .
Ramat oul aye’ sr esolvei nt hef aceofaf atesheneverchosef orher selfdemonst rat
esan
extraor dinar yr esi l
ience,andabel iefinmaki ngduewi thwhat everl if
ehasi nst or e.
Ramat oul ayedoesnott akedi rectact i
ononherownbehal fint hesenset hatshedoesn’ t
stand up t o Modou,butshe atl eastt akes t he chal l
enges ofsi ngle mother hood
(mul t
ipliedt wel ve-fol
d)i nst ri
de.
Inpassi ng, Ramat oulayeonedayment i
onshavi ngt or i
depubl ictranspor t
ati
ont o
Aissat oui nal etter.I nr esponse,Ai ssatoui mmedi at el
ybuysRamat oulayeacarby
call
ingi nanor dert othel ocalFi atagency.Ramat oulayei ssur prisedandover joyed.She
doesnotknow how t odr i
veandi ssomewhataf r
aidt olear n,butr emai nsdeter mined
andover comesherf ear .
Notonl ymustRamat oul ayeadaptt ohernewf oundper sonali ndependence,shemust
adaptt oSenegal ’sincr easingmoder ni
zationandgl obalization,asr epresentedbyher
l
earni ngt odr iveanI taliancarpur chasedf orherbyherf r
iendover seas.

CHAPTER17
Ramatoul
ayeref
lect
sfurtheronthefateofhermar ri
age.Shest ruggl
estounderstand
whyModoudecidedt oleaveherinthefir
stplace,andtri
estodet ermineift
herewas
anyt
hingshecouldhavedonet opreventhisfl
ight
.Sheissur e,however,t
hatshehas
beenanexemplarywifeandmot her.Further
,sheadmi t
st hatshei sstil
ldevot
edt o
Modou,despi tehist erribl
etreatmentofher .Shewr i
testoAi ssat
out hat,thoughshe
respectswomenwhot akeast andagai nstthei rerranthusbandsandl eavet hem behi
nd,
shehasneverconcei vedofhappi nessout sideofmar ri
age.
Ramat oulayeclearlydi dnothingt oi nvi
teModou’ sabandonmentofher .Despi teher
sacri
ficesandi nvaluablecont ri
butionstoherf ami l
ylif
e,sheisst i
llseenbyModouas
enti
relydisposable.Ramat oulaye’s “conf essi on” toAi ssat
oushowsagai njusthow
muchshehasi nter nal
izedcust om andt radition,includingtheideathatt herecanbeno
realhappinessorf ulf
il
lmentf orawomanout sideofmar ri
age.

CHAPTER18
Itisnow t hef or t
iet hdayaf terModou ’ sdeat h.Ramat oulayewr itest hatshehas
forgivenhi m.Then, outoft hebl ue,
Tamsi r,Mawdo,andt heI mam appearagai ninRamat oul aye’shome.Tamsi rspeaks,
tell
ingRamat oul ayet hatassoonasshecomesoutofmour ningherwi llmarr yher,
explaini ngt hathepr efer shert ot he“ otherone”( Binet
ou, thatis).
Tamsi rexpect st oi nher itRamat oulayef rom hisdeadbr ot
hermuchl ikehewoul da
pieceoff urniture.Hi sconf i
dence—hedoesn’ tasksomuchashei nforms—conveysa
totaldi srespectf orRamat oul aye’ sindependenceandi nt ell
igence,andevenherbasi c
humani ty.Hi sr eferencet oBi net ouas“ theotherone”mi ghtbel aughabl eifitweren’tso
hor r
ible.
Ramat oul ayei sinf ur i
at edbyt hispr oposal.Inresponse, sher ai
lsagai nst
Tamsi r’ sdi srespectandpr esumpt uousness.Shet ell
shi mt hathei sdi srespectingnot
onlyher ,buthi sownwi vesandt hememor yofhi sbrot her.Shei nsinuat esthathei s
simpl yaf terhi sbr ot her ’
spr oper ties, whi chDabaandherhusbandhaver ecent l
ybought .
Takenaback,MawdobegsRamat oulayet ostopyel l
ing,butsher efuses.Fi nallyshe
fini
shes, andTamsi rleaves, def eat edandspeechl ess.
Thisi sper hapst hef irsttimei nt henovelt hatRamat oul ayet akesast andagai nsther
oppr essor s, andi tiscer t
ainlysat isfying.Shepr ovesher sel ft
obemor esensi t
ive,smart,
andr het or i
callydef tthatTamsi r
.Herout burst,
whi chcutsst r
aighttot hehear tofthings,
i
sast ar kcount erpoi ntt ot het hreemen’ sbumbl i
ng,awkwar dadmi ssionofModou’ s
i
nf i
delityear l
ierint henovel .

CHAPTER19
Thenextday, DaoudaDi eng,
Ramat oulaye ’soldsuitor
,appear s.Ramat oulayesensest hathehascomet oaskfor
herhandi nmar ri
age,al
thoughhel ackst heobnoxi ousconfidencethat
Tamsirdi spl
ayed.Want i
ng t o st eerDaouda away f rom t he topic ofmarri
age,
Ramat oulayebegi nsdiscussingpol i
ti
cswi thhim( heisamemberoft heNati
onal
Assembl y).Ramat oul
ayet easesDaoudaaboutt hel ackofwomeni ntheassembly—
onlyfouroft heonehundr edr epr esentat
ivesarewomen.Shest ressesthatwomen
shouldhavet her i
ghttoequaleducat i
onandequalpay,andt hatSenegalhasgonet oo
l
ongwi t
houtaf emaleleader .Daoudavehement l
yagr ees,andcl aimstohavegi ven
speechesbef or etheassembl yont hosever yissues.Heconcl udesbysayi ngthat
Senegalhasal ongwayt ogo.Hel eaveswi thoutbringingupmar ri
age.
Though t hisi s exchange i s cert
ainlyintel
li
gentand mutuall
yr espectful
,thereis
somet hi
ngi ronicabouti ttoo.Thatis,Daoudahascomet oRamat oulayeessenti
all
yto
claim ownershipoverher ,andyethei nsi
ststhathewantsgreat
erfreedomsf orwomen
i
nSenegal .Stil
l,despit
et heirony,thecivi
lexchangepresentsahopef ulpict
ureofthe
futureofpol it
icaldiscoursei nSenegal( i
nbot hpubli
candpr i
vatespher es)
.Thet wo
speakersar eener gi
zedandent husi
asticaboutthei
rcount
ry’
sfutur
e.

CHAPTER20
Somedaysl ater,Daoudaappear sat
Ramat oulaye’ sdooragai n.Onceagai ntheyf al lont hesubj ectofpol i
ti
cs,butthistime
Daouda r edirectst he conver sati
on t ot he subj ect of mar ri
age.He admi tst o
Ramat oulayet hathehasneverst oppedl ovingher ,
eversincehef ir
stt r
iedtocour ther.
Ramat oulayei st aken abacki fnotent irel
ysur pri
sed.Sheeven f eels,asshet ell
s
Aissatou, al i
ttl
e“ intoxicated”byt hepr oposal .Tact ful
ly,Daoudat ellsRamat oulayeto
thi
nkabouti t,andt henhet akeshi sleave.Onhi swayout ,her unsi nt
oFar mat a,
Romat oulaye’s gr iotnei ghbor.Af tert he br iefencount erFar mat ar ushes backt o
Ramat oulayeandi nformshert hatshe’ smetRamat oulaye’
snewhusband, whosear r
ival
shepr edictedear l
ier .
Daouda’ shumi li
tyandt actareabr eathoff reshai rincompar isont oTamsi r’scrass
proposal.Rat hert hanannouncehi sintent i
ons,Daoudapr esentsRamat oulayewi tha
choice.St i
ll,Ramat oulayei sbynomeansover joyedbyt heat t
enti
on—atmostshei s
sli
ghtlyintri
gued.Far mat a’
sexci t
edr eactioni ssomewhatabsur dand, inRamat oulaye’
s
eyes,over l
ysuper st it
ious.Ramat oulayei st het ruemast erofherf ate,atleastint hi
s
aspectofherl if
e.

CHAPTER21
Ramat oulayet hinksoverDaouda ’ sproposali nsol it
ude.SheknowsDaoudai san
honorableman.Shet r
ustst hathewoul dser veaswonder f
ulf athert oherchi l
dren,and
shenot esthat ,
despi tenotr eallylovinghiscur rentwi fe,hehasal wayst r
eat edherwi th
theutmostr espect ,goingsof arast oinvolveheri nhi spol i
ti
call ife.Farmat aconcur s
with al
lt heseassessment s,and encour agesRamat oulayet o acceptt hepr oposal .
However ,Ramat oulayecan’ tbr i
ngher sel
ftol oveDaouda.Assheput sit
,sheknowsi n
herheadt hathewoul dmakeaf inehusband,butherhear tdisagr ees.Shedeci desshe
cannotmar ryhi m.
Ramat oulayecannotbr ingher selftoagreewi thapr acticalviewofmar r
iage,choosi ng
i
nstead t of oll
ow herhear t.Int hi
s way she r ejectst he t raditional
,conser vat
ive
worldview—r epresentedher ebyFar mata’ sur gings—accor dingt owhi chshehas
essential
lynochoi cebutt ochooseDaouda.Herchoi cet oremai nasi ngl
emot herisas
braveasi ti
shonest .
Ramat oulayedeci dest owr i
teal ett
erto
Daouda,expl ainingherdeci sionnott omar ryhi m.I ni t
,shesayst hatwhi l
eshehol ds
Daoudai nhi ghest eem,i tisul ti
mat el
yonlyest eem t hatshef eelsf orhim,notr omant i
c
l
ove.Sheal sowr it
est hat,havi ngonl yrecentlybeenabandonedbyherhusband,she
cannoti n good consci encecomebet ween Daouda and hi scur rentwi f
e.Far mata
del i
verst hel etter,t hinkingt hatRamat oulayehasaccept edt hepr oposal .Shel earns
ot herwi sewhensheseesDaouda’ sr eact i
onuponr eadi ngi t.Angr yanddi sappoi nted,
sher eturnst oRamat oulayewi thDaouda’ sr esponse:“ Allornot hi
ng.Adi eu.”
Ramat oul aye’ sl etteri smeasur edandr easonabl e,whi l
eDaouda’ sr esponsei scur tand
somewhatext reme.Thoughi tsext r
emi typer hapsor iginat esi npersonalangui sh,italso
seemst or evealt hatDaoudai sunabl et oconcei veofRamat oul
ayeasaf ri
endanda
peer —shei sonl yapot ent i
almat e.Nowt hatshehast ur nedhi m down, hehasnousef or
hercompanyanymor e.
Af terDaouda, mor eandmor emenshowupatRamat oulaye’ sdoor stept oaskf orher
hand i n mar r i
age.She r ej
ect st hem al l
,whi ch earns hera r eput ati
on among her
nei ghbor sasacr azywoman.AsRamat oulayeexpl ains, allthemenseem t obeaf terher
i
nher it
ance, whi chshehasr ecent l
ywonbackf rom Binet ouand
Bi netou’ smot her.Mostnot abl y,Ramat oulaye—wi t
ht hehel pofherdaught erDabaand
Daba’ shusband—haswonbackt hevi l
lat hatModoul ivedi nwi thBi netouandher
mot her.Bi net ouandhermot herar eevi ctedf rom thehouse.Whi leBi netou’smot heri s
ter r
iblyupsetbyt his, Binetoui si ndi
fferent.
Ramat oul aye’ sst eadf astr efusalofasecondhusbandi scompl etelysensi ble—and
financi all
yr esponsi ble—yeti nnear lyever yone’ seyessheseemscr azy.Inot herwor ds,
thepr ejudi cesoft hecommuni tydonotper mitthei deat hatapower ful,financially
i
ndependentwomancanl i
veonherown.Bi netou’sindifferentr eacti
ont ot helossofher
houseseemst osuggestt hatherear lymar ri
agehassappedherofal lemot i
on,ort hat
thegr eedt hatseemedt omot i
vatet hemar riagemost l
ybel ongedt ohermot her,not
her self.

CHAPTER22
Ramat oul ayewr itest oAi ssatout hat
Ousmane,heryoungestchi l
d,isal wayst heonet obr inghert hel ettersthatAi ssat ou
sendsher .Ramat oulayei sgr eatlycomf ortedbyAi ssatou’ swor dsofcomf ortand
encour agement .Shel ooksf orwardt ot hedaywhent heymeetagai n,wr it
ingt hatt he
changest heirbodi eshaveunder gone,andt het imet heyhavespentapar t
,wi llbe
meani ngl esstot hem.Thei rfr
iendshi pisfoundedi nt hecont entoft hei rhearts.
ForRamat oulaye,t ruef riendship,unl ikeromant icl oveandmar riage,i simper vioust o
dist
ance,t ime,andchange.Event houghRamat oul ayeandAi ssat ouhaveconduct ed
thei
rfriendshi ponl yt hroughl ettersovermanyyear s,itr emai nsasst rongasever .
Dabar et urnsf r
om t hesecondar yschool t
hatMawdo( MawdoFal l), oneof
Ramat oul aye ’s sons,at t
ends.He has been get ting int ot roubl e wi th his whi t
e
phil
osophyt eacher ,
who“ cannott olerateabl ackcomi ngf i
rsti nphi losophy, ”andf avor s
awhi teFr enchboy,consi st
entlygi vi
nghi mt hehi ghestmar ksevent houghMawdoi s
thebet terst udent .Bot hMawdoandDabaunder standt hi
st obeagr eatinjustice,and
Dabawant st otellthet eacherof f.ButRamat oul
ayet ri
est odi ssuadeher ,arguingt hat
doingsowi llbeawast eofener gy.I tismor ei mpor tant ,Ramat oul ayear gues,t of ocus
onone’ sownst udies, one’ sowni mpr ovement .
Ramat oul ayeandherdaught erhavet wosepar at
ewaysofr espondi ngt othisobvi ousl y
racist
, col oniali
st i njust i
ce. Ramat oulaye r epr esent s a mor e conser vative,
pull-
your sel f-
up- by- your-bootstrapsvi ew ofsel f-rel
iance.Daba,who i syoungerand
mor ef iery,seemst of avorconf rontat ionandpr ot estint hef aceofi njustice.Theset wo
perspect i
ves r epr esenti n mi niatur e a gr eater pol iti
calquest i
on doggi ng newl y
i
ndependentSenegal :howbestt or espondt owhi t
esupr emacyandar ecenthi storyof
coloni ali
sm andoppr ession.
Ramat oul ayel i
nger sonDabaf orawhi le,descri
bi nghermar ri
aget oherhusbandAbou.
Dabamai nt ainsaf armor epracticalvi ewofmar riaget hanRamat oulayeeverhas,f ull
y
accept i
ngt hatt her emaycomeadaywhensheandherhusbanddeci det odi vorce.
Dabahasal sodeci dedshedoesnotwantt oent eri ntoel ectoralpol iti
cs,pr eferring
i
nst ead t he smal lwomen’s or gani zat i
on to whi ch she bel ongs.Ramat oulaye i s
somewhatbewi lder edbyherdaught er’ sdecisi onsbutul t
imat elyi mpr essedbyher
convi ctionandt hecl ar
ityofherr easoni ng.Ramat oulayecl osest hissect i
onoft helet t
er
bydescr i
bi nghowherdaught erAi ssat ou( Ai
ssat ou’snamesake)hel psherwi t
hr aising
theyoungchi l
dr en, andhow
MawdoFal lhel psherwhenshei ssi ck.
ThoughDaba’ svi ewofmar ri
agedi fferssi gnifi
cant lyfrom Ramat oulaye’s, Ramat oul aye
i
sabl et ounder st andandul timat elyr espectherdaught er’sreasoni ng.Dabar epresent s
ayounger ,mor epr ogressivegener at i
oncomi ngt ot hef ore,t aki
ngt her eignsofnewl y
i
ndependentSenegal .Ramat oulaye,t hen,r epr esents an ol dergener ation thati s
potent iall
ywi l
li
ngt ol etinnewval uesandcul turalnor ms, r
athert hanbi tterlyclingingt o
cust om andcausi ngpai nforherchi l
dr en.

CHAPTER23
Ramat oulayerecount stoAi ssatouar ecentepi sodei nwhi chshewal kedi nont hreeof
daught ers—whom shedescr ibesas“ thetri
o”—smoki ngci garettessecr etl
yi nt heirroom.
Shei sshockedbyt his,anddoubl yshockedbyt heirbewi ldermenti nt hef aceofher
anger .Ramat oulayewonder swhet hershehasbeent ool iberalasamot her( shel et
s
them gooutatni ghtont heirown)andwor riest hatsmoki ngwi llleadt hem i nt oother,
mor edanger ousvi ces.Shenot esal sothatherdaught ershavest artedwear ingt rousers,
whi chst r
ikesherasi ndecent .Despi teherwor r
y,however ,Ramat oulayedoesn’ tcrack
downonherchi ldr en—i nsteadshesi mplykeepswat chovert hem,ot her wiset rusti
ng
them tomaket hei rowndeci sions.
Thet ri
o’sbehavi orsuggest st hattheyar eabandoni ngconvent ionalSenegal ese- Muslim
wisdom i nf avorofamor epr ogressive,European- infl
ectedout l
ook.Ont heonehand,
theynow haveaccesst ogr eaterf reedoms;ont heot herhand,t hesenew f r
eedoms
presentdanger stot heirhealth( i
naqui t
elit
er alway,i nthecaseoft heci garet t
es),and
threatent oadmi tindul genceandvi ce.ThoughRamat oulayedi sagr eeswi thherchi l
dren’
sdeci sions,herul timatelymeasur edr esponset ot hem suggest sanunder lyingl i
beral
atti
tude.

CHAPTER24
Notlongafter
,Ramatoul
ayeisint
err
upt
eddur i
nghereveningpr
ayerswhenhertwo
sons,Al
iouneandMalick,comehomei nj
uredandcryi
ng,agroupoffri
endsi
nt ow.
Mali
ck’sarmlooksbr
oken.Thechi
ldr
enexplai
nthatwhi
letheywerepl
ayi
ngsoccerin
thest reet ,amanona
mot orcycl er anoveragr oupoft hem.Theybr ingt hemot orcycl i
st ,whom t heyhave
beat enup,bef oreRamat oul aye.Heapol ogi zest oher ,expl ainingt hathedi dnotexpect
theboyst obepl ayi ngi nt hest reet,andf ailedt ost opbef orehi tt
ingt hem.Tohersons’
sur prise,Ramat oul ayet akest hesi deoft hemot or cyclist,chast i
si ngherchi ldrenand
tell
ingt hem t heyshoul dn’ thavebeenpl ayi ngi nt hest reett obegi nwi th.Mal i
ck’ sbr oken
armi st r eat edbyMawdoatt hehospi tal.
Themot or cycl esymbol i
cal lycomescr ashi ngi ntot hechi l
drenj ustasmoder nizat ion
hascomecr ashi ngi ntoSenegal —wi thasuddeni nfluxofbot hnewf reedomsandnew
danger s.Ramat oul aye’ sdeci siont ot aket hemot or cycl i
st ’ssi dei nt hedi sput ef urther
char act er izesherasat oughbutconsci ent iousmot her ,focusedmor eoneducat ingher
childr en t han soot hing t hem i nt heirdi stress,especi ally when doi ng so mi ght
compr omi sehermor alsorsenseofj ust ice.
Ramat oul ayeseguesi ntodi scussi ngherdaught erAi ssat ou,herf riendAi ssat ou’ s
namesake.Ai ssat ouhasbecomepr egnantoutofwedl ock.Ramat oul ayer ecount show
shel ear nedoft hisdevel opment .Ai ssat ouhadbegunt oshowsomesi gnsofpr egnancy
—shehadl ostwei ght ,herbr eastswer eswel li
ng,andshewassuf feringf rom mor ni ng
sickness— butRamat oul aye br ushed t hese si gns of fas coi nci dences.However ,
Far mat a,Ramat oul aye’ sgr iotneighbor ,insi stedot her wise,unt i
lfinal lyFar mat aher self
conf ront edAi ssat ou,l ear nedt het ruth,andbr oughtherbef oreRamat oulayet oexpl ain
her self.
Int hiscase,Ramat oul aye’ shands- offpar entingl eadsheri ntobl i
ndness.Shedoesnot
expectt henews, ordoesnotwantt obel ievei t,orbot h.Suddenl yFar mat a,whount ilthis
pointhasseemedl i
keaf anat i
calquack,i st heonewhoseest hr ought ot het rut hof
things.Per hapsconvent i
onalwi sdom i sn’ tt otallyusel essaf terall.
Aissat ouI It ear fullyexpl ainst hatt hef atheri sI brahi maSal l,al awst udentt hatshehas
beendat ingand, inf act ,l
oves.
Ramat oul ayei satf i
rstangr y—howcoul dherdaught erdosomet hi ngsocar eless,and
sosoonaf terModou’ sdeat h?However ,swal l
owi ngherangerandr emember inghowher
daught er ssuppor tedheri nherdi stress,Ramat oul ayedeci dest oembr aceAi ssat ou
with open ar msand conf rontt hesi tuat ion wi th opt i
mi sm.Far mat a,who expect ed
Ramat oul ayet oputonamor eangr y,indi gnantdi spl ay, i
shugel ydi sappoi nted.
Byconsci ousl yr eject ingt hepar tofhert hatwant st opuni shAi ssat ou,Ramat oulaye
bucksconvent ionalwi sdom,cr eat ingf orher selfacodeofet hicst hatpr ioriti
zesl ove,
under st andi ng,andf orgivenessovert hedi ctat esofr eli
gi onandt radi tion.I tisper haps
onlyasmal lvi ct oryagai nstt hef or cesofoppr essi ont hatRamat oul ayecont endswi th
throughoutt henovel ,butf orRamat oul ayeandAi ssat oui tmakesal lt hedi fference.

CHAPTER25
Ramat oul
ayesummonsI brahimaSal l,andhecomest ovi sither
.Shei spl easantl
y
surpri
sedbyhim:heisclean,dr esseswell,andconductshi mselfwit
htact.Heassur es
herthatheandAissatouIIhavef igur
edever yt
hingout:hisparentswil
ltakecar eofthe
babyunt i
lAi
ssat
ouandI brahimaf ini
shtheirstudi
es.Luckil
y,thebabyisduedur ingthe
hol
idays,so Aissat
ou wi l
lbe abl et o hide herpregnancy and avoi d expulsi
on.
Ramat oulayeisimpr essedbyal lofthi
s,andaddsnot hi
ngtotheplan.Shewr i
testhat
shef eelsthatAi ssatouhasent eredIbrahima’ scare;Ramatoul
ayeisnol ongerher
daught er
’spri
mar yguardian.
IbrahimaandAi ssatou’sopendi al
ogue,carefulplanni
ng,andthei
rloveandmut ual
respectforeachot herofferaclearcounterpoi
nttoRamat oul
aye’
sand( ot
her)Aissatou’
sf ai
ledmar ri
ages.BySenegal esestandards,Ibrahi
maandAi ssat
ou’sunioni senti
rely
unconvent i
onal— even immor al— and yeti n practi
ceitseemsl i
kea f arheal t
hier
rel
ationshipthan t he other
st he novelhas of fer
ed thus f
ar.Theirexampl e gi
ves
Ramat oulayehope.

CHAPTER26
Ibrahimavi si
tsRamat oulaye’ shouseof t
en.Hei sar ol emodelt oRamat oulaye’ syoung
sons,andheencour agesAi ssat ou’snamesakei nherst udi es.“Thet r
io”spur nshi m,
andFar mat ar emai nsskept ical
, butRamat oulayecomest oadmi rehim greatly.
Onceagai n,Ibrahima’ sconsci ent iousandsol icit
ousbehavi orisahopef ulcount er poi
nt
toModou’ sabandonmentofRamat oul aye.
Spur r
edonbyAi ssatouI I
’
spr egnancy,
Ramat oulayedeci dest ohaveaconver sati
onwi th“ thet ri
o,” heryoungerdaught ers,
aboutsexualeducat ion.Sher emar kst hatint hepast ,younggi r
lshavebeent aught
chastityaboveal lelse.However ,inst eadoff orbiddingsexout ri
ght,shechannel sa
mor e“ moder n”out look, anddeci dest oemphasi zesaf esexaboveal l
.Inaddi t
ion, she
tri
est ounder linet he“ sublimesi gnificance”ofsex, i
nt hehopet hatherdaught erswi ll
takei tser iousl y.Shedel i
versherl ect urener vouslyandwi thsomedi ff
iculty,buther
daught ersseem unf azedandevenbor edbyi t—Ramat oul ayegetsthei mpr essi ont hat,
tothem, shei smer elystatingtheobvi ous.
Timeshavechanged:t houghRamat oul ayefindsi tdifficultt oadoptamor e“ moder n”
outlookt hanshei susedt o,herdaught ers,simpl ybyvi rt
ueofbei ngyoung,have
naturallydevel opedmor el i
beralat titudest owar dsext hant heol dergener ations.I f
Ramat oulaye’ sdaught ersar eanyi ndi cat i
on,thef utureofSenegalhast hepot ent i
alto
bemor eopen, honest ,andunder standi ngt haneverbef or e.

CHAPTER27
Aissat ouiscomi ngt ovisitsoon,and
Ramat oulayelooksf or war dtoherarri
val.Ramat oul
ayer efl
ect
sf urt
heront hef ateof
womeni nSenegal esesoci et
y:shei shear tenedbyt heexpansi onoft heirri
ghtsand
l
iber t
ies,butr emai nswar ythattheirhard- foughtgainsar eunstable—cer t
ainsoci al
restri
ct i
onsper sist
,andmenst il
lhaveamonopol yonpower .Ramat oulayeinsists,
however ,on her f ait
hi nthe inst
itut
ion of mar riage,and whatshe cal lst he
“compl ementari
ty”ofmanandwoman.Manandwi fear ethemostbasi cpol i
ti
caluni t
,
shear gues, asnat i
onsar emadeupoff amilies.
Withr egar dtothest atusofwomeni nsoci ety,Ramat oulayeishopefulbutevervi gil
ant:
sheknowst hatsocietal advancesforwomenar ealwaysf ragi
leanddiffi
culttomai nt
ain.
Att hesamet ime,herbel iefi
ntheinsti
tuti
onofmar r
iageshowshermor econser vati
ve
streak,anddemonst r
atesherbel iefthatf ami l
ylif
eandpol i
ti
calli
fear enotdi sti
nct,
mut uall
yexcl usivepur suit
s—infact
,theyar einseparable.
Ramat oulayewonder si fAissat
ouwi llappearchangeduponr et
urning.Sheguesses
thatAissatouwi l
lbewear i
ngasui t
,nottradi ti
onalclothing,andwi llasktoeatatat abl
e
withutensils, intheWest ernstyl
e.Ramat oulayeclosesbysayi ngthatsher etai
nshope
forherfuture, andthatshewi l
lgoouti nsear chofhappi ness.
Ramat oulaye’ sconjectureaboutAi ssatou,t houghl i
ght hearted,expressesananxi et
y
thatmoder ni zati
onmi ghtcomet oer aseSenegal esecul ture.Tell
ingly,thenoveldoes
notdescr i
bet heactualreunionofthet wof riends—itonlyexi stsasanaddr ess,aki
ndof
monol ogue, andanyr esponseAissatoumi ghtofferexistsonl ybeyondt hepage.

CHARACTERSANALYSI
S

Ramat oulaye
Ramat oulayeist henar rat
orofSoLongaLet ter;thebooki sbothherdi aryandal ong
l
ettertoherf r
iendAi ssatou.Ramat oulayebelongst ot
hegenerati
ont hatgr ewupunder
the French col onialr egime and came ofage j ustas Senegalwas achi eving it
s
i
ndependence.Accor dingly,shei sver ypol i
ti
callyengaged,andr efl
ectsof tenont he
fut
ureofhercount r
y,ther ol eoft raditi
oninmoder nli
fe,andthepr ospectofwomen’ s
l
iberati
on.Shei sf undament all
yaf eminist
,thoughshehol dscertainbeliefsthatsome
feminist
smi ghtf indunf ami li
arorper hapsevendi sagreewit
h.Forone,shei sadevout
Musl i
m,andf ollowst hedi ctatesofherf ait
hevenwhent heyseem t oadvocat ethe
unequaltreatmentofwomen.Thoughshei sat eacherandhasapr ofessionallif
eofher
own,shei sal soadevot edmot her .Herf ai
thandherpat i
encear et estedwhenher
husband Modou ,deci des t ot ake a young second wi fe(perfectly accept abl
ei n
Senegalese-Musl im cul ture)andpr oceedst oabandonRamat oulayeandhert welve
chil
dren.Despi teModou’ si nfideli
ty,though,shechoosest oremainmar r
iedt ohim.

Aissat
ou
Aissat
ouisRamat oulaye ’soldchildhoodf riend,andtheaddr esseeofherl ett
er.She
comesf r
om ar atherpoorf ami
ly;herfatherisagol dsmith.Aissat ouexperi
encessimilar
troubl
einhermar i
tallife—herhusbandt akesonayoungsecondwi fe,ofnoblebir
th,in
ordertopleasehi smot her—butsher eactstoi tquitedif
ferently.UnlikeRamatoulaye,
Aissat
oudeci destol eaveherhusbandonpr i
nciple.Ofamuchmor eindependentspiri
t
thanRamat oulaye,Ai ssatoudecidest opur suehereducat ion.Sheendsupmovi ngt o
Amer i
ca,t
owor kintheSenegal eseembassyt her e.

Modou
Modoui sRamat oul aye’shusband.Hei sauni onorgani zerand,l i
keRamat oul
aye,
engagedi nhiscount ry’
spoli
ti
cs.Atf i
rst,thetwoar everydeepl yinlove,andt heymar r
y
despit
et hepr ot
estationsofRamat oulaye’ sparents.However ,thei
rlovef adesast hey
grow older.Modout akessecretinteresti nhisdaughter’syoungf r
iendBi netou.He
l
avishesherwi t
hgi ftsandmoney,andevent uall
ydecidest omar r
yherwi t
houtt el
li
ng
Ramat oulaye.Aftert hi
ssecondmar riage,Modouessent iall
yabandonsRamat oul
aye
andtheirtwelvechildren.Hi
sdeathoccasi onsRamat oulaye’slet
tertoAissatou.
Mawdo
Aissatou ’shusband.Mawdoi sadoct or,anupstandi ngcitizen,andamemberof
Senegal ’
scl assofnobl es.HeandAi ssatoufalli
nl ovedespi tethecl assdi f
fer
ence
betweent hei
rtwofamili
es.ThisupsetsMawdo’ smot her,whoevent uall
yt ri
ckshimi nt
o
taki
ngonhi syoungcousi n
Nabouasasecondwi fe.Hedoessosomewhatr el
uctantly,butthenpr oceedst ohave
chil
drenwi t
hNabou, cl
aimi ngal
lthewhilethatheonlylovesAi ssatou.Aissatoucannot
acceptthisandleaveshim.Evenaf t
erAissatou’
sdepar t
ure,however ,Mawdor emainsa
goodf ri
endtoRamat oulaye.

Binet
ou
Modou’ ssecondwif
e,andafr
iendof
Daba.Shei sonly17whensher eluct
antl
ymarri
esModou.Shedoessoatt heur
gings
ofherfamil
y,whoareaft
erModou’smoney.Binetousur
viveshermarr
iaget
oModouby
makingfunofhim,or
deri
nghi
m ar ound,andmaki
nghim buyherthi
ngs

THEMATI
CANALYSI
SOFTHEBOOK

Custom, Modernity,andPr
ogress
TheSenegaldepi ctedinSoLongaLet t
erisacount r
yonthethreshold,passingbet ween
twohistori
caleras.Ramatoul
ayei sbornandeducat edundertheFrenchcol onialregime,
andshel i
vest hroughSenegaleseindependence.Her si
sthegenerationresponsi blefor
theslow processofSenegalesesel f-
deter
mi nat
ion.Theyhavetakenont heenor mous
taskimagininganew soci opolit
icalorder,andwi thitapostcolonialfuturef ortheir
country.

Femini
sm andI sl am
The opposi ng pull
s ofcustom and progress t
hatRamat oul
aye encount
ersint he
Senegalesepoliti
calcli
matebecomepersonalandpart
iculari
nherstrugglet
oreconcil
e
herabidingf ai
thi nIsl
am withherfeminism.Thecent r
aldramaoft henovelisthe
di
sint
egr at
ionofRamat oul
aye’smar
riagetoModouaf terthelat
tertakesonasecond
wif
e—hisdaught er’
syoungfri
end,
noless.

Mot herhood
Ramat oulayeisadevotedmothertohertwelvechi
ldren.WhenModouabandonsherf or
Binetou,andthenwhenheevent ual
lydies,Ramatoulayemustr edoublehereffort
sasa
mot herandf acewithcouragetheprospectofbei ngasi nglepar ent.Ramatoulaye’s
struggl
esasamot herarenotjustparti
culartohermar italsit
uat i
on—t heyareal so
parti
culartothetimesi nwhichshel i
ves,asherchi ldr
enar egr owingupdur ingt he
dawnofSenegal ese.

Fr
iendshi
pvs.Mar
it
alLove
Throughoutthenovel,
Ramat oulaye’
sclosebondwithherfr
iendAissatouiscontinual
ly
posedagainstthedisi
ntegrati
onofbot hofthei
rmarri
ages.ForbothRamat oulayeand
presumablyAissat
ou,f r
iendship—especial
lyfemalefri
endship—of f
ersar icherand
mor eint
imat
econnect i
ont hanmar r
iageevercan.Thiscontr
astisevidentinthever y
form oft
henovel.