Le 4 novembre 2024, notre établissement a eu l’honneur d’accueillir l’écrivaine Fatou Diome dans le cadre de Strasbourg Capitale mondiale du livre UNESCO. Cette rencontre a été possible grâce à un partenariat avec l’Association Interbibly qui propose chaque année des rencontres d’auteurs dans les lycées du Grand Est.
Afin de préparer cet évènement, les élèves se sont intéressés au parcours de l’écrivaine. Ils ont localisé son pays d’origine, plus particulièrement l’île de Niodor, située au sud du Sénégal, dans le Delta du Saloum. Ils ont lu et analysé des extraits de son roman Le ventre de l’Atlantique (2003), largement autobiographique. Il s’agit du livre qui a fait connaitre l’écrivaine à l’international. Enfin, ils ont préparé des questions thématiques par couleur, en vue d’une petite animation qui facilite la prise de parole.
La rencontre a été intense du début à la fin. Pour attirer l’attention des élèves, tandis qu’ils prenaient place, Mme Diome a chanté, spontanément, une berceuse traditionnelle. Interloqués, les élèves se sont tus et ont bu ses paroles. Elle les a encouragés à poursuivre leurs études : « Ayez le courage de vos rêves ! » leur a-t-elle dit. Elle a ajouté, à propos des discriminations dont on peut être victime : « Ne transigez jamais avec votre dignité » et surtout « gardez la tête haute » ! Espérons que ces messages resteront longtemps dans leur esprit.
Vous trouverez, ci-dessous, les impressions de certains élèves.
Mme Castex et M. Taras
« I hoping next that at the visit we can meet the author and ask more questions about her autobiographical book Le ventre de l’Atlantique which I liked very much. I liked this meeting with Fatou Diome because I liked her energy very much. And to finish, a sentence of Mrs. Diome’s was particulary interesting: “Racism is the fear of the because don’t know him”.
Alphonse & Ana
“This meeting was so interesting with the writer. I felt that Fatou knew how to react to a racist. She also protected his brother from Europe. The first thing she talked about was school, telling us that it is the key of success. The only thing she loves is writing. She cannot stop thinking or writing books home”.
Aya & Emin
“This meeting with Farou Dione was very interesting. We were captivated. She talked about her life story and people’s racism. We were very touched. We liked this meeting very much”.
Doriane & Noreen
“When I met Fatou Diome it was really nice. I was really interested in her story. She presented to us a part of books that she writes. They all have a signification for her. When she talked to us she was very funny. So we felt alright. We were comfortable with her because she answered all of our questions. Her story is very interesting because she was alone. In order to get by she worked as a cleaning woman. She is a wonderful woman. She fights against racism. She fights for women. So I feel concerned ».
Fatima-Ezzahra
“When we met Fatou Diome she was a very nice woman. She spoke nicely. She gave us good advice. Her story was very interesting. She told us about how she started writing storyies and her experience in life. If I were to see her again I would ask her more about her personal life”.
Karim