Paper short abstract:

Through the case of Pulaar literature produced in Europe and Africa, this paper will explore some of theoretical consequences of a transnational and cosmopolite approach for literatures in African languages.

Paper long abstract:

According to Paul Jay, "Contemporary globalization is characterized, not by withering away of the nation-state in the face of homogenizing, westernizing, or cosmopolitan tendencies, but by the simultaneous acceleration of globalization and nationalism" (2010: 118). Through the case of a transnational literature in an african language (Pulaar/Fulfulde) produced and circulating in Europe and Africa, this paper will explore some of theoretical consequences of a "multisited ethnography" (Appaduraï 1996) and cosmopolite approach for the study of literatures in african languages. I argue that what is generally considered by literary critics as minority, ethnic or regionalist literatures arise contemporary questions about "glocalization" and show the limits of an institutional approach of literature and a territorial definition of "Nation". Fulfulde language is spoken by roughly 20 millions people across the Sahel from western Senegal to eastern Sudan. Nowhere is it an official language. However, a creative writing in Pulaar - one of the major dialect of Fulfulde spoken in Mali, Senegal and Mauritania - emerged since the 60's because of a transnational associative network. From an institutional point of view, the creative writing in Pulaar is almost invisible. Most of books are hard to find. This situation is in clear contrast with a form of intensity which characterizes this literature. Hence the importance of the notion of "network" to appreciate this intense connection of readers to books and the social and political function of the literature in Pulaar in a linguistic community disseminated all over the world.