Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye, writer and daughter of the brilliant Senegalese intellectual and Associate Professor of Philosophy, Sémou Pathé Guèye, knows that she has a long way to go in her vocation as a writer. Both to carry the memory of his Father and to make his own name. But also to carry high the torch of the Women's fight to which she holds as the apple of her eye. Afrique Destinations met the author of The Odyssey of Gnilane (L’odyssée de Gnilane) and Posthumous Confessions (Confessions posthumes). Interview.
Afrique Destinations: Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye, you are Senegalese, writer in particular, author of two books. But who is the other apart from these caps?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: I am a young woman, wife and mother of a little boy. Trained as a lawyer, I am currently working in a local company. At the same time, I am an entrepreneur in the fields of fashion, perfumery and more recently in the digital world, in addition to being at the head of a women's group. I also work in the social field and I am the founder of a non-profit association.
Afrique Destinations: You are the author of The Odyssey of Gnilane and Posthumous Confessions. Could you summarize these two books for us?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: L'odyssée de Gnilane (The Odyssey of Gnilane), my first novel published by Éditions Artiges, traces the story of Gnilane, a young woman who is trying to rebuild herself after a complicated divorce. Ignoring the stereotypes and the label of "easy woman" that we generally stick to women in her situation, Gnilane struggles to regain her place as a woman leader and model in society. Moreover, the novel evokes social themes that constantly challenge because of their significance, namely: divorce, caste problems, the complexity of mothers-in-law/daughters-in-law relationships, the status of women and love...
I have a rather special relationship with the second novel Confessions posthumes (Posthumous Confessions), because it was a way of paying tribute to my late grandmother Oumoule Gueye for what she represented for me. This is the story of a slice of life of Mossane, a young orphan who will be confronted with the vicissitudes of life following the death of her grandmother Mame Thioro, her emotional and moral landmark. Throughout the story, she confides to him her experience, her regrets….
For this book, I focused more on the condition of women, particularly that which results from the exploitation of young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is in this sense that I approach the question of procuring by raising the idea of penalizing the "pedophile client", because I consider that they exploit the poverty, innocence and credulity of vulnerable girls. This novel was also a pretext for me to raise issues such as: prostitution of minors, sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancies, suicide, precarious social conditions in urban areas, the obstacle course of women to give birth, the postpartum depression and of course love….
Above all, I want these two stories to be life lessons for women who will find themselves in the same situation.
Afrique Destinations: How were your first two books received by the Senegalese public?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: Well I would say. I received a lot of congratulations, encouragement and advice...
Afrique Destinations: How do you write? Namely, from the germination of ideas to the last sentence of the manuscript or typescript, how is your writing organized?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: I am inspired by everything!!! And since I'm lucky enough to have an overflowing imagination, I have no difficulty extracting a story from a fact or a situation. I also sometimes draw inspiration from stories that are told to me or stories in which I am closely or indirectly involved (this is the case with my first novel where I took from each subject covered in the book the part of these stories that interested me). On the other hand, I generally write at night and only with my phone. I am not inspired when I am in front of a white sheet or a computer. After writing, I send the drafts to certain acquaintances to get their opinions before giving them to the publisher.
Afrique Destinations: You have an obvious propensity for the theme relating to Women. Is there an explanation for this or simply because you are a woman?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: Yes there is a reason, writing allows me to express myself on the condition of women in general and to give my feelings, but it is also a way for me to bring my building block...
Afrique Destinations: What place do you give to the Sorority in your writings, as a women's rights activist, isn't this a theme that should be talked about more and more?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: The patriarchy wants to destabilize us by continuing to fuel the myth "women don't love each other". I think sorority exists even if there is still a long way to go. We see nowadays on the social networks, in companies, during events that women are beginning to cultivate this spirit of “sorority”; they no longer hesitate to share the exploits of women, boost, reward, help each other... to inspire and empower the younger generation. However, this remains a theme that should always be discussed in order to raise awareness.
Afrique Destinations: Fatou Sagar Gueye, what motivated you to become a writer?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: I was introduced to reading very early on by a teacher and writer dad. I remember that there was no shortage of opportunities to offer us books…And it was as a teenager that I got involved in writing, which served as my refuge. Then writing allows me to open up to the world and talk about themes that are close to my heart.
Afrique Destinations: As if writing were not enough for you to defend certain causes that you are passionate about, you have many other projects in progress at the moment. Could you tell us about it?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: Yes, I have a few in the works. On the other hand I prefer to keep them for me at least for the moment.
Afrique Destinations: Regarding the emancipation of women, how do you think to tell young girls that it is possible even when you live in Africa in particular?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: I think we should above all continue to popularize the journey, the work and the success of our models of inspiring women leaders through the media, social networks, discussion spaces, among others. We have so many models of African women who have fully succeeded but are unknown to the younger generation…. Then our governments must facilitate access to financing for the underprivileged and carry out regular follow-ups for each case.
Afrique Destinations: Isn't it fashionable to know how to lead the fight for women's rights in order to also win over men in this fight, in other words not to lock all men into this concept of Patriarchy if do women want to be even more heard and supported by men in the context of African societies like Senegal and many other countries on the continent?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: We don't see matriarchy as a mirror image of patriarchy at all. We just do not accept the laws of patriarchy because in Africa, in Senegal more precisely, they prevent women from living by encouraging subordination and enslavement. I can give as an example our family code which contains many discriminatory provisions against them.
But I am for an egalitarian society and all my actions, my writings go in this direction.
Afrique Destinations: Tell us, which African writers have particularly inspired you to dream of writing and why?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: Aminata SOW FALL, Marietou MBAYE KEN BUGUL, Fatou DIOME and Assita KANKO, for the beauty of their pen and also for the ideas they defend. I have read almost all of their books...
Afrique Destinations: Apart from Senegalese writers, could you name some of your favorite authors in foreign literature?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: I read a few books by Simone de Beauvoir and Rosa Parks. But I loved Devenir and this light in us by Michelle OBAMA…
Afrique Destinations: Do you have any new writing projects underway?
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: Yes, I am currently working on a scriptwriting project...
Afrique Destinations: Fatou Sagar Gueye, and if you were asked what message would you like to convey to readers, what would you answer?...
Fatou Sagar Sémou Pathé Gueye: Women must abandon all passivity and work to IMPOSE THEMSELVES. I also think that all women should start writing…
Interview by Marcus Boni Teiga
