LCB
Hemley Boum

Hemley Boum was born in Cameroon where she studied anthropology before going on to study international business at Lille, leaving the tropical rain of Douala for the colder climes of northern France. After a first job in Paris, she returned to Cameroon to work as the key account manager of the Cameroonian branch of a French company. During this time, she became an explorer in her own country; what she learnt about the agri-food, cotton and forestry industries opened her eyes to the workings of Cameroonian society and the international exploitation of local resources. Hemley went on to live in several African countries before settling in Maule, about forty-five kilometres from Paris. She publishes regular articles in Jeune Afrique, Le Point Afrique and Le Monde Afrique and has contributed to several essay collections. Through the prism of everyday relationships, her novels bring together urban life, tradition and history, giving an insider’s view of Africa that is vivid, thought-provoking and free of cliché. Her novel “Si d’aimer …” was shortlisted for the 2013 Ahmadou Kourouma Prize, while “Les Maquisards” was awarded the Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire 2015.

Hemley Boum wurde in Kamerun geboren. Dort studierte sie Anthropologie, dann Internationalen Handel in Lille, den tropischen Regen in Douala gegen die Kälte Nordfrankreichs austauschend. Nach einer ersten Anstellung in Paris kehrte sie nach Kamerun zurück, wo sie als verantwortliche Key Account Managerin in einem dort ansässigen französischen Unternehmen arbeitete. Sie erkundete ihr Land, entdeckte dabei Lebensmittel-, Baumwoll- und Forstwirtschaftskonzerne, die ihren Blick auf die kamerunische Gesellschaft und die internationale Ausbeutung der lokalen Ressourcen weitete. Sie lebte in verschiedenen Staaten Afrikas, bevor sie sich 45 km von Paris in Maule niederließ. Hemley veröffentlicht regelmäßig Artikel in Jeune Afrique, Le Point Afrique und Le Monde Afrique und publizierte in mehreren Sammelbänden. In ihren Romanen behandelt sie Urbanität, Tradition und Geschichte im Alltag intimer Beziehungen, der ein Afrika fernab von Klischees zeigt und Denkanstöße gibt. Ihr Roman »Si d’aimer …« stand auf der Shortlist für den Ahmadou-Kourouma-Preis 2013. »Gesang für die Verlorenen« (im Peter Hammer Verlag erschienen) wurde mit dem Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire 2015 ausgezeichnet.

Hemley Boum was born in Cameroon where she studied anthropology before going on to study international business at Lille, leaving the tropical rain of Douala for the colder climes of northern France. After a first job in Paris, she returned to Cameroon to work as the key account manager of the Cameroonian branch of a French company. During this time, she became an explorer in her own country; what she learnt about the agri-food, cotton and forestry industries opened her eyes to the workings of Cameroonian society and the international exploitation of local resources. Hemley went on to live in several African countries before settling in Maule, about forty-five kilometres from Paris. She publishes regular articles in Jeune Afrique, Le Point Afrique and Le Monde Afrique and has contributed to several essay collections. Through the prism of everyday relationships, her novels bring together urban life, tradition and history, giving an insider’s view of Africa that is vivid, thought-provoking and free of cliché. Her novel “Si d’aimer …” was shortlisted for the 2013 Ahmadou Kourouma Prize, while “Les Maquisards” was awarded the Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire 2015.

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