The Story Archive

Xala

Ousmane Sembène · 1973 CE · Novel · West African · Contemporary

A Dakar businessman with a seat on the Chamber of Commerce marries a third wife with the Mercedes, the imported mineral water and half the cabinet in attendance, then finds himself impotent on the wedding night. Marabouts are consulted, the cure is expensive, and his creditors start counting. Sembene's portrait of a bourgeoisie that took over the colonial offices unchanged.

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Lineage

Attributes

Genre
SatirePolitical
Theme
Power & CorruptionWealth & GreedClass & InequalityVanity & Beauty
Archetype (Jung / Campbell)
Anti-HeroTricksterVillain / TyrantScapegoat
Plot structure
Rise and FallIronic ReversalTrial
Symbol / motif
The FeastThe GarmentThe City
Conflict
vs Societyvs Supernatural
Mode / tone
SatiricalIronicRealist
Culture / tradition
West African

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