With an incisive and captivating pen, Cameroonian author Éric Delphin Kwégoué transports his readers into a universe where corruption and violence reign supreme. His latest work, entitled “À coeur Ouvert”, has just won the prestigious RFI Theater Prize 2023 at the Festival des Francophonies in Limoges.
In this committed novel, Kwégoué highlights the decline of the Cameroonian state, denouncing without filter the abuses of power and the scandals which plague society. The story follows the nightmare of a family whose husband holds compromising documents on the management of public contracts, thus putting his life, as well as that of his pregnant wife and their son, in danger.
Éric Delphin Kwégoué’s writing is imbued with urgency and vehemence. The words follow one another in a frenzy, transporting the reader into a whirlwind of emotions. He plays with the codes of punctuation, removing commas, accents and other pauses to reinforce the sense of urgency and rush. This absence of punctuation also allows each reader to appropriate the text and read it at their own pace.
Beyond his powerful pen, Éric Delphin Kwégoué nourishes his inspiration with striking literary references. He cites in particular Émile Zola and his novel “Germinal”, where the author values the words of the people and the workers. For Kwégoué, these workers are a metaphor for the Cameroonian people, who find in their voice a force of resistance in the face of corruption and oppression.
Through “À coeur Ouvert”, Éric Delphin Kwégoué offers an uncompromising look at the complex and tormented reality of Cameroon. It highlights the internal conflicts that are tearing the country apart, between the terrorist threat of Boko Haram in the Far North and the fratricidal war that has been raging since 2017 in the English-speaking part. The author also denounces human rights abuses, with journalists murdered and political opponents imprisoned.
Despite this dark picture, Éric Delphin Kwégoué believes in the possibility of a revival of the Cameroonian people. His novel, a true cry from the heart, is intended to bring hope and a call for collective mobilization. By making the voice of the people the primary weapon against corruption, he reminds everyone of the power they hold to bring about positive change.
Éric Delphin Kwégoué, beyond being a talented author, is also an actor, director and runs his own theater company in Douala, Koz’art. His commitment to freedom of expression and social justice is evident not only in his writings, but also in his artistic achievements.
By winning the 2023 RFI Theater Prize, Éric Delphin Kwégoué is rewarded for his undeniable talent and his courage in denouncing the ills of Cameroonian society. His work “À coeur Ouvert” will remain a strong and impactful testimony to these troubled times, but also a source of inspiration for all those who aspire to a better world.