De TILENE au Plateau: une enfance dakaroise

"From Tilène to the Plateau: A Dakar Childhood"
by Nafissatou Niang Diallo

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Dakar, seen through the eyes of Nafissatou Niang Diallo, in this poignant and candid account of her childhood and adolescence. From Tilène, a working-class neighborhood with bustling streets, to the Plateau, a symbol of modernity and urban aspirations, the author recounts the journey of a young Muslim woman in the Senegalese capital.

Through this autobiography, Nafissatou Niang Diallo reflects on the contrasts between tradition and modernity, family aspirations, and the social realities of the city. This book explores the transformation of Dakar society and the transition from childhood to adolescence, while highlighting the challenges and dreams of younger generations.

"From Tilène to the Plateau" is a rich testimony to the complexity and beauty of life in Dakar, where culture, religion, and social change intertwine. A work that is both intimate and universal, and will resonate with anyone interested in urban Africa and the youth of the big city.

Author's Biography:

Nafissatou Niang Diallo was born on March 11, 1941, in Tilène (Dakar). She lost her mother in 1942, at the age of one and a half, and was cared for by her paternal grandmother (Mame) throughout her life. She did not receive a very strict upbringing. Around the age of 13, she moved to the Plateau. She published her first book in 1975 (From Tilène to the Plateau), which tells the story of her life. She studied midwifery, which initially disgusted her, but later became a passion. She married Mambaye Diallo in 1961 and had six children. She died in Toulouse in 1982. She also published many other books. Her father died while she was at boarding school from an illness she would never experience. Later, she lost her grandmother.