© Philippe Matsas
Maryse Condé, born in Guadeloupe in 1934, was a globally renowned journalist, literature professor, and writer. She worked as a cultural journalist at the BBC and Radio France Internationale (RFI). As the founder of the Center for French and Francophone Studies at Columbia University, she played a pivotal role in introducing Francophone literature to the United States. Throughout her career, she authored numerous novels, notably exploring themes of slavery and colonisation in works like Segu and I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem. In 2018, she was awarded the alternative Nobel Prize in Literature, as a recognition of her portrayal of the impact of colonialism.