WORLD LITERARY ATLASBOOKS WITHOUT BORDERS · 2026
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Africa · A READING GUIDE

Burundi

Gaël Faye, born in Bujumbura, writes about childhood threatened by violence and the search for family memory in Rwanda. Roland Rugero uses a misunderstanding that triggers mob justice. Small Country and Jacaranda move from a child’s perspective towards reconstructing unspoken history. Baho! adds a distinct voice writing directly within a Burundian context.

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Edition cover: Small Country — Gaël Faye
English edition

Gaël Faye

Small Country

About the book

A childhood in Burundi fractures under war and violence in neighbouring Rwanda.

Original title: Petit pays

EnglishTranslation

Small Country

Hogarth

Translated by Sarah Ardizzone

Edition source ↗
PolishTranslation

Tęsknota

W.A.B. – Grupa Wydawnicza Foksal · 2017

Edition source ↗

Roland Rugero

Baho!

About the book

A non-speaking boy’s gestures are misread, setting off pursuit and mob justice.

EnglishTranslation

Baho!

Phoneme Media

Edition source ↗
Edition cover: Jacaranda — Gaël Faye
English edition

Gaël Faye

Jacaranda

About the book

A young man travels from France to Rwanda to understand his mother’s unspoken past.

EnglishTranslation

Jacaranda

Hogarth

Edition source ↗

Antoine Kaburahe

Hutsi: In the Name of Us All

About the book

Aloys Niyoyita’s testimony about violence, mixed identity and family memory in Burundi.

EnglishTranslation

Hutsi: In the Name of Us All

Iwacu

Edition source ↗
Context and sources

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