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Karim Sagna
Professor of French and Francophone Studies

Karim Sagna, a native of Senegal, teaches courses in French language as well as in classes in African and Caribbean Francophone literature and film. His current scholarly work focuses on Mandika oral poetry from Senegal and Gambia.

Of Earlham students he says, “my students are dedicated, motivated, enthusiastic and focused. They are dynamic students who demonstrate respect and strong understanding of different cultures.”

Contact Info

Campus Mail
Drawer 174

Phone
765-983-1787

E-mail

Office
223A Carpenter Hall

Programs/Departments

  • Languages and Cultures
  • African and African American Studies
  • French & Francophone Studies

Degrees

  • Ph.D., University of Arizona
  • M.A., University of Kansas

Selected Courses:

I teach French language, African and Caribbean Francophone Literature and Film

My scholarship concentrates on African literature in both western and African languages, African systems of writing and oral tradition. My current work focuses on Mandinka oral poetry from Senegal and The Gambia.

Publications

"l’Afrique ne pleure plus, elle parle." The French Review, Mai 2010 (Vol. 83, N0.6): 1373-1374. 

“Un fina se raconte.” Journal of the African Literature Association (JALA). Spring 2009: 222-228. 

“Entretien avec Youssou Ndour.” Literary Griot : International Journal of Black Expressive Cultural Studies. 2007 (23-30). 

“Identités et lien social en Tunisie.” The French Review, Avril 2007 (Vol. 80.5). 

"Youssou Ndour : la voix de la Médina". The French Review, Octobre 2006  (Vol. 80. 1) :  229-230. 

Le monde francophone à travers vidéo en DVD : Video on DVD for Teaching Language and Culture. (Publication avec collègues de Lawrence University et Ohio Wesleyan University) 2006. 

"Congo 1960. La sécession du Sud-Kasaï. La vérité du Mulopwe." The French Review, Avril 2006 (Vol. 79. 5) : 1088-1089. 

"Youssou Ndour : artiste et artisan du développement." The French Review 2004 (Vol. 78. 2) : 392. 

Conference presentations

"Afan Landing Camara: un poète sénégambien.” University of The Gambia, Banjul, November 2012 

“Le marabout et le poète.” African Literature Annual Conference, Southern Methodist University, Dedman College, Dallas, Texas, April 2012. 

“Investigation in Mandinka Oral Poetry.” African Literature Annual Conference. Athens, Ohio University, Avril 2011 

“Memory and Identity. Perspectives in Oral Narratives.” Annual Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference, Radford University, October 2010 

"Language/Culture and Literature in Half of a Yellow Sun" (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie). Earlham College, August 2010. 

“La répétition dans l’imaginaire romanesque de M. M. Diabaté.” African Literature Annual Conference - University of Vermont, Burlington. April 2009. 

“On dit les noms des morts pour sécher les larmes des vivants.” Kentucky Foreign Language Conference - University of Kentucky, Lexington. April 2008 

“Islam and Senegalese value systems.” Faith and Values Luncheon series  Earlham College, March 2008 

“Islam in Contemporary West Africa: a case study of the Senegalese Sufi system.” Earlham College, August 2006 

“Réflexion sur l’image du père dans l’oralité mandingue.”.Kentucky Foreign Language Conference - University of Kentucky, Lexington. April 2006 

“Rites de la parole et modalités narratives dans L’Assemblée de Djinns.”  American Association of Teachers of French - Québec, July 2005 

“The place of Black Studies in Language Departments.” Black Studies Conference, Revolutionary Adaptations in the Diaspora - Earlham College, April 2005 

“Paratexte et activité créatrice dans l’écriture de Massa Makan Diabaté : de la trilogie au récit initiatique.” Kentucky Foreign Language Conference - University of Kentucky, Lexington, April 2004  

“Perspectives on Diversity. Exploration of Mandinka verbal art through written texts, music and films.” Earlham College, August 2003 

“Etude du discours narratif dans Le boucher de Kouta.”   American Association of Teachers of French - Fort-de-France, Martinique, July 2003 

“Orphée.Dafric, du mot à l’idée.” 24th Annual Conference of the African Literature Association - University of Texas, Austin, April 1998 

"Ecriture autobiographique d’une princesse peuhle.” 23rd Annual Conference of the African Literature Association - Michigan State University, East Lansing, April 1997 

“La temporalité dans la trilogie de Massa Makan Diabaté.”  University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, April 1997

African Literature Association
Mande Studies Association
American Association of Teachers of French

I chose to come to Earlham because it's a great supportive working environment.

Earlham students are dedicated, motivated, enthusiastic and focused. They are dynamic students who demonstrate respect and strong understanding of different cultures.

I taught Immigration Cinema in France. The course explores ways immigration has been shaping the sociocultural and political discourse in France. It also analyses the notions of otherness, stereotypes, cultural relativism, generational conflicts, and integration.

I love to play soccer with my colleagues and students. I also have my own garden full of tropical fruit in Casamance, Senegal.

Earlham College, an independent, residential college, aspires to provide the highest-quality undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences, shaped by the distinctive perspectives of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

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