Éléments science-fictionnesques dans "La Pièce d'or" de Ken Bugu

Abstract

Ken Bugul is a Senegalese writer, widely acclaimed for her semi-autobiographical novels, where she uses writing as a form of auto -therapy. However, in La Pièce d’or, published in 2006, the reader is surprised to find supernatural elements that can be interpreted as science fiction. The author paints a striking picture of the African society after the sixties, torn apart by corruption, violence, urbanization and lack of perspectives. This dystopian universe is threatened by an asteroid, which can only be stopped with the use of a gold coin. The purpose of this article is to analyze three elements of science fiction in the novel: the title objet, the mythical creature and the alien. It aims to show how the author blends science fiction with African tradition in order to remind the reader of the need for solidarity and return to traditional values. The study is based, among others, on the works of Gilbert Millet and Denis Labbé, Katarzyna Gadomska, Isaac V. Joslin and Alison Rice.