The African Child

Camara Laye's memoir, The African Child, chronicles his upbringing in French Guinea, detailing his early life in a family of goldsmiths and his experiences with traditional Malinké culture. The narrative follows his transition from childhood through the painful rite of circumcision to his education in local schools and eventual move to Conakry. Finally, the book highlights his emotional departure for France on an engineering scholarship, leaving behind his beloved family and homeland.