Mme Thompson and Senegal

Chantal P. Thompson is a professor of manifold talents. It was while writing a French textbook that she first encountered African literature. In July 1995, armed with a grant from the French government, Mme Thompson went to Dakar to study literature with the authors themselves. It was a life changing experience; according to her "you can't go to Africa without being profoundly changed. You just can't." She came back to Provo with lasting friendships and a devotion to African literature and culture that prompted the creation of the African Studies minor (which has since been moved to the anthropology department; more information can be found here) as well as several study abroad programs (including one coming up in Spring 2011) to Senegal.

So when the President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, came to Salt Lake City, Madame Thompson was there. Why was President Wade in Utah of all places? The answer is simple: education. President Wade has dedicated 40% of the Senegalese budget to education, and hopes that software from the Salt Lake City-based Waterford Institute will improve early education for young Senegalese. The software has already been implemented in low-income communities in the United States with exciting results that President Wade hopes to duplicate in les Cases des Tout-Petits (Senegalese preschools).

Madame Thompson attended a reception and award ceremony in the president's honor. Her pink boubou and French conversation made her an instant favorite of the President's body guards, and when President Wade and his wife Viviane (who used their visit to call for support from the medical community in the fight against cancer) arrived they passed over former governor Mike Leavitt and went straight to her. They enjoyed a friendly conversation the rest of the evening (in front of cameras and reporters from all over the world), finding common friends and places they knew. Below is a picture of Madame Wade, President Wade, and Madame Thompson:



(This schol year is an exciting one for African literature; in March BYU is hosting a colloquium honoring the 50th anniversary of L'aventure ambigue by Cheikh Hamidou Kane. Keep reading the blog for more information about this remarkable novel and the upcoming colloquium.)