From stereotypical perceptions of Africa to the beginnings of translating novels by African writers into Slovenian

Abstract

The Slovenian attitude towards the populations of Black Africa began to shift in the mid-twentieth century, as interest in translating books by African authors into Slovenian grew alongside the Non-Aligned Movement. The decision made by the Pomurska založba publishing house in Murska Sobota to launch the Mostovi (Bridges) book collection marked a significant step towards a more systematic translation of novels by writers from less developed countries worldwide. Mostovi likewise devoted more attention to the literature of Black Africa than any other Slovenian book collection. The contribution analyses the first eight Black African novels from the collection, focusing on the views that diverged the most from the official positions of the Yugoslav state leadership as portrayed in the state media. These novels centre on protagonists who must confront old traditional values, often linked to tribal belonging, with the modern world in which they feel lost. The changing values were influenced not only by the colonialists and the innovations they introduced, but also by the demands of the modern world.