Cover of Pascal Boroto’s novel “Le nom de ma mère” with a scenic mountain view and mist.
At just 24 years old, Pascal Boroto has made history as the first author from the Democratic Republic of Congo to secure the prestigious Voix d’Afriques literary prize. His debut novel, Le nom de ma mère (My Mother’s Name), serves as a poignant tribute to his late mother, a courageous journalist who inspired his path. The story follows a narrator navigating the war-torn landscape of Goma, blending personal grief with the collective struggle of displaced families. Selected by a jury led by Goncourt winner Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, Boroto’s writing acts as a bridge between memory and modern conflict. With the prize ceremony set in Kinshasa, Boroto’s breakthrough signals the arrival of a promising new storyteller on the continent’s literary stage.
RFI