Today, for the first time in three months since he had slapped her on — Ousmane Sembène

"It is worth knowing something about the life led by urban polygamists. It could be called geographical polygamy, as opposed to rural polygamy, where all the wives and children live together in the same compound. In the town, since the families are scattered, the children have little contact with their father. Because of his way of life the father must go from house to house, villa to villa, and is only there in the evenings, at bedtime. He is therefore primarily a source of finance, when he has work. The mother has to look after the childrens education, so academic achievement is often very poor."

"Today, I will bring back something to eat."

"I told you yesterday, Rama, that I couldn’t do anything more for you, or for any of the striker’s families."

"Striking brutally through the cloud curtain, like the beam from some celestial projector, a single ray of light lashed at the Koulouba, the governors residence, poised like a sugar castle on the heights that bore its name."

"El Hadji Abdou Kader Beye was what one might call a synthesis of two cultures: business had drawn him into the European middle class after a feudal African education. Like his peers, he made skillful use of his dual background, for their fusion was not complete."

"God forgive me, I had forgotten Maimouna."