Le vieux nègre et la médaille – Ferdinand Oyono
Plot Summary
This novel is set in colonial Cameroon and follows the story of Meka, an old African man. Meka is respected in his community because he donated land to the Catholic Church and sent his sons to fight in France's wars. For all these sacrifices, the French colonial authorities decide to honor him with a medal.
At first, Meka is proud and excited. He feels seen, important, and recognized. To him, the medal is not just a piece of metal, it is a sign that all his suffering, loyalty, and sacrifices meant something. He dresses up, prepares for the ceremony, and imagines how proud his ancestors would be.
But as the day unfolds, everything turns bitter. The colonial officials treat him like a child, patronizing him, laughing at him, and humiliating him. Instead of being honored, he becomes the subject of mockery. At the ceremony, he is paraded around but never truly respected. Later, after a night of drinking, Meka is arrested and mistreated by the very police who once celebrated him.
The medal becomes a symbol of betrayal. It shows the emptiness of colonial promises, the way the colonizers exploit Africans, use their land, their labor, even their sons' lives, but give back nothing but humiliation.
About the Author
Ferdinand Oyono (1929–2010) was a Cameroonian writer, diplomat, and politician. He is best known for his sharp, satirical novels that expose the hypocrisy of colonialism. His most famous works include Une vie de boy (Houseboy, 1956) and Le vieux nègre et la médaille (The Old Man and the Medal, 1956).
Oyono wrote in French, and his novels often combine humor with tragedy. He had a unique way of showing how colonialism dehumanized Africans, not by preaching, but by telling simple stories full of irony and everyday struggles.
After his literary career, Oyono became very active in politics. He served in various government roles in Cameroon, including as an ambassador and later as a minister. Even though he stopped publishing novels, his early works remain classics of African literature, studied worldwide for their honest and biting portrayal of colonial life.
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