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Madagascar

Portrait of writer Naivo

The City and the Writer: In Antananarivo, Madagascar, with Naivo

By Nathalie Handal

Its name, “the city of thousands,” is synonymous with multitude.

Global Blackness: Black Writers in Translation

By Eric M. B. Becker

Engaging “the evolving dialogue that broadens definitions of global Blackness.”

A Pun, an Idiom, and an Expletive Walk into a Bar: International Humor

By Susan Harris

When we think of translating humor, we may think in terms of capturing jokes.

Joyful, Painful, Surreal: Life As a Parent

By Karen M. Phillips

The intensity of the parent-child relationship, with its high emotional stakes, life-and-death responsibility, and inescapable physical proximity, makes for powerful stories.

Hauntings: International Ghost Stories

By Susan Harris

Ghosts and all they represent lurk perennially in the universal consciousness and in literature around the world.

Water in the Rice Fields up to My Knees!

By Johary Ravaloson

Since when do dead people care about rice?

Translated from French by Allison M. Charette

Knowing the Unknowable: Writing from Madagascar

By Allison M. Charette

Not a single novel from Madagascar, whether written in French or Malagasy, has ever appeared in English.

Abandoning Myself

By Magali Nirina Marson

Besides, poverty’s not interesting, and I don’t want them to pity me

Translated from French by Allison M. Charette

Multilingual

The Conspiracists

First and foremost, what proves to me that you are what you say you are?

Translated from French by Allison M. Charette

Omeo Zamako

By Charlotte-Arrisoa Rafenomanjato

Lehilahy tells his son that he must work harder in order to succeed, that knowledge is not easily attained.

Translated from French by Sophie Lewis

from “The Lamenting Land”

By Andry Andraina

We made God wait his turn, because we wanted to eat meat.

Translated from Malagasy by Mialy Andriamananjara & Allison M. Charette

Nenitou

By David Jaomanoro

Story, story. If there is a falsehood in my tale, it is not I who has lied to you.

Translated from French by Allison M. Charette

Blastomycosis

The adults didn’t risk wandering about in broad daylight . . .

Translated from French by Allison M. Charette

Wife Sold at Auction

By David Jaomanoro

If you don’t take advantage of the rainy years, you’d better have some jump in your legs in the dry years.

Translated from French by Margaret Besser

Auntie’s Eggs

By Iharilanto Patrick Andriamangatiana

It’s a well-known fact that rhyming jingles attract customers.

Translated from French by Allison M. Charette

One Times Two

By Cyprienne Toazara

In the house on the hill, a bright, spacious room was waiting for a cradle.

Translated from French by Allison M. Charette

from “Za”

By Jean-Luc Raharimanana

“They are saying that this man is a fridge full of organs!”

Translated from French by Sophie Lewis

Famine

By Jean-Luc Raharimanana

The gecko got it right

Translated from French by Antoine Bargel & Alexis Pernsteiner

Multilingual

Kratos

By Jean-Luc Raharimanana

Now chant. / Dêmos / Kratos

Translated from French by Alexis Pernsteiner & Antoine Bargel

Multilingual

But Your Eyes

By Esther Nirina

Smooth is the beach / Like the arch of my entrance / Refusing your doors.

Translated from French by Alison Anderson