Conversation on Senegalese Culture

In French class, we have been reading a book called Une Si Longue Lettre, by and author named Mariama Bâ. The book is a feminist story set in post-colonial Senegal, and is written as a letter from a woman, Ramatoulaye, to her best friend, Aïssatou. The book deals with the issue of polygamy, which is socially acceptable in Senegalese culture. There is a young man in my class named Cheick whose first language is French and is a native to Mali, a neighboring country to Senegal. Beyond the lesson plans from class, I was able to have a few conversations with him about his take on polygamy and other cultural issues addressed in the novel. It was interesting to hear his opinions about the author's take on these issues, and I was intrigued by his disagreeing with the social norm of polygamy. Speaking with Cheick gave me a different perspective on the reading, as I was able to hear the values and ideas of the author spoken from a person who comes from the same scenario, in real life. The novel speaks against polygamy from the point of view of a woman who is victim to her husband taking a second wife. Cheick agreed with what the book was saying, that polygamy is not part of his family values and is something he would never consider doing. It was a unique experience hearing a real-life take on the arguments made in this book published in 1979. Cheick was able to attest to the reality of the author's claims, and make his own statements in agreement with what the author is saying. When reading a book about Senegal and its culture, everything seems so foreign, but talking to a kid whose home is close to the situation made me feel closer to the book and give greater insight into the novel.