Elisabeth Mudimbe-Boyi : An Oral History
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Elisabeth Mudimbe-Boyi, Professor of French and Comparative Literature, Emerita, describes her early life growing up in the Belgian Congo, her education both before and after the country won independence in 1960, and her career in academia in Africa and the United States. Topics include mission life, African identity and the legacy of colonialism in francophone literature, Stanford’s Division of Languages and Literatures, and gender in academia.
- Summary
- Early childhood in the Belgian Congo • Life in Mikalayi, a Catholic mission community • Education in the Catholic school system, including boarding school and speaking French • Segregation system, advantages of being considered “évolué” (evolved) • Experience going to an all-white secondary school (collège) • First exposure to the humanities in the Latin and Greek section • Enjoyment of studying French literature and languages • Impact of independence on her education • Secondary school in Belgium in order to complete Latin and Greek courses • Parents’ expectations regarding education • Father’s experiences at the mission in the Belgian Congo • Father’s experience under the new government and his ability to work as a doctor • Recollections of period of independence including Patrice Lumumba • Living between “the white and the black girls of my age, not having ties with either of them” • Finishing up secondary education and moving on to university in 1962 • Romance languages at Université Lovanium • Euro-centered education but exposure to African and Caribbean writers through Monsieur Bol • Time in Paris: marriage to Valentin- Yves Mudimbe and birth of son • Protests at the University of Nanterre • Working on PhD at University of Lubumbashi • First faculty job • Move to Pittsburgh for husband’s Fulbright and decision to remain in the United States • PhD research on writings of Italian Capuchin missionaries to the Congo • Many “firsts” as a Congolese woman, including being on the university faculty • Reflections on gender and academia, including an experience of gender discrimination • Thoughts on the concept of post-colonial literature • Experience teaching French and Italian literature • African and Caribbean writers • Contrast of Congolese and American students and classes • Teaching at Haverford College and Duke University • Adjusting to life in the United States • Teaching positions as a faculty spouse • Offer of tenured faculty positions at Stanford and decision to move to California in 1995 • Comparison of work and family life in the Congo and in the United States • Joint position in French and Italian and Comparative Literature • Culture of the departments • Connections with African Studies and the Abbasi Islamic program • Modern Language Association • African Literature Association • Time as president of the ALA and conference in Egypt during Iraq War • Mémoire de licence on Jacques-Stephen Alexis • Expanding research to Caribbean literature • Interest in themes of African identity, language, and legacy of colonial power • Themes of ambiguity and ambivalence in writers of African diaspora • Influence of boarding school years • Reflections on publications • Writing in French versus writing in English •Beyond Dichotomies conference and conference focused on the French-speaking post- colonial world • Issue of “francophone” literature • Post-colonial women writing in French • Research on intercultural relations, history, and memory in literature • Discussion of character Tituba in Maryse Condé’s novel • Courses taught over the years • Emphasis on the primary texts in courses • Introductory course with L’Enfant Noir as a basic text • Approach to working with graduate students • Restructuring of language departments into Division of Languages and Literature • Visiting professorships in China • Reflections on experiences at Stanford • Contrast of issues regarding women and minorities in Africa versus in the United States • Grandchildren
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Extent | 1 text file |
| Place | Stanford (Calif.) |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
| Date created | November 29, 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Digital origin | born digital |
Creators/Contributors
| Interviewee | Mudimbe-boyi, M. Elisabeth | |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | Mudimbe-boyi, M. Elisabeth | |
| Interviewer | Marine-Street, Natalie J. | |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Subjects
| Subject | Mudimbe-boyi, M. Elisabeth |
|---|---|
| Subject | Stanford University. Department of French & Italian |
| Subject | Stanford University. Department of Comparative Literature |
| Subject | African literature (French) |
| Genre | Interview |
Bibliographic information
| Biographical Profile | Professor Elisabeth Mudimbe-Boyi is affiliated with both the French and Italian and Comparative Literature departments. Her teaching and research interests include cultural relations between Europe, Africa and the Caribbean; literature, intellectuals and society; and women writers. Before coming to Stanford in 1995, Professor Boyi taught at universities in the Congo and Burundi, as well as Haverford College and Duke University. She was a Visiting Professor in the French Department of the Graduate Center, CUNY in 1994. In 1999-2000 Professor Boyi was a Fellow at the Stanford Humanities Center. In 2002-2003 Professor Boyi was the president of the African Literature Association, a non-profit society of scholars dedicated to the advancement of African Literary Studies. She served as a member of the Executive Council of the Modern Language Association, where she represents the field of French (2003-2006), and as the Director of the interdisciplinary Program in Modern Thought and Literature at Stanford (2005-2008). In 2012 and 2013, Professor Boyi was a visiting Professor at Hong Kong University. In 2014, she received the African Literature Association's Distinguished Member Award. |
|---|---|
| Audio/Video |
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| Finding Aid | |
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/mp709ty3060 |
| Location | SC0932 |
| Repository | Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Collection
Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022
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