Abstract
Centuries ago, so-called colonial literature took on the task of conveying certain images of Africa, doubling the work of schools, the press, museums and exhibitions of all kinds designed to represent the dark continent to the French public. If Africa remains mysterious or "ghostly" for many, several generations of authors have now changed the way it is represented in powerful, committed and unforgettable fiction. How can the diversity and uniqueness of the continent be reflected in contemporary fiction from France, Belgium, Senegal, Congo, South Africa and sometimes the West Indies? Literature has played a not inconsiderable part in the development of an "idea of Africa" that philosopher Valentin Mudimbe masterfully outlined in his work of the 1990s, following Edward Said'sOrientalism. If literature has contributed to this "invention", to what extent can it also help to undo it? How does literature today contribute to the production of knowledge and other "truths" about Africa?
