Origins & Early Life

Mariama Bâ (April 17, 1929 – August 17, 1981) was a Senegalese author and feminist. Her two French-language novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages each. Born in Dakar, Senegal, she was raised a Muslim. Her frustration with the fate of African women is expressed in her first novel, Une si longue lettre (1979; translated into English as So Long a Letter).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In this semi-autobiographical epistolary work, Bâ depicts the sorrow and resignation of a widow who must share the work of mourning with her late husband's second, younger wife. The novel was awarded the first Noma Award for Publishing in Africa in 1980. Bâ was born in Dakar, Senegal, in 1929, into an educated and affluent Senegalese family of Lebu ethnicity. Her mother, Fatou Kiné Gaye, died when Mariama was 4 years of age. Her father, Amadou Bâ, founded the separatist African Autonomist Movement in 1946.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was the Minister of Health for Senegal in 1956 while her paternal grandfather, Sarakholé, worked as an interpreter for French officials during the French occupation regime. After her mother's death, Bâ was primarily raised by her maternal grandparents, who emphasized...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Asa Griggs Candler — Contemporary (Died in 1929) (1929): American business magnate and politician, most famous for founding the Coca-Cola Company.
• Abigail Spencer — Contemporary (Born in 1981) (1981): American actress, producer, and writer known for roles in soap operas and dramas.
• Alicia Keys — Contemporary (Born in 1981) (1981): Award-winning pianist and vocalist known for her soulful R&B sound.
• Anwar Sadat — Contemporary (Died in 1981) (1981): Egyptian President who spearheaded economic reform and the peace treaty with Israel.
• Alexander II of Russia — Shared historical date (04-17 · Born) (1818): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Benjamin Franklin — Shared historical date (04-17 · Died) (1790): American polymath, Founding Father, and inventor who shaped the early United States.
• David Koresh — Shared historical date (08-17 · Born) (1959): American cult leader and preacher, central figure in the 1993 Waco siege.
• Fernand Léger — Shared historical date (08-17 · Died) (1955): Pioneering French painter known for 'Tubism' and modern, populist style.
• 1929 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1929
• April 17 (04-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 17
• 1981 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1981
• August 17 (08-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 17