Prince Malela, a French-Congolese author based in Lille, has carved a distinctive literary path since 2021, publishing six works that blend autobiography and fiction.
His latest novel, President Raymond Barténgué Died in His Pool!, delivers a striking political narrative probing the shadows of African dictatorships. In an intimate conversation, Malela reveals how his writing is guided less by planning and more by inspiration.
Asked about the origins of his literary career, Malela credits the death of his father—a Congolese politician with a “beautiful pen” who never published—as the catalyst.
“This sad realization motivated my decision to start writing a year after his passing,” he says, reflecting on how loss sparked his creative voice.
Balancing autobiography with fiction, Malela notes, “Since 2021, I have published six works. Three of them are fiction, and three are life stories. So that makes a perfect tie.” His approach to political fiction, he adds, is intuitive rather than premeditated. “My books dictate their pace. I don’t plan things in this area. I let myself be guided by inspiration… This time was no exception.”
His decision not to specify the African country in President Raymond Barténgué was intentional. “I wouldn’t say that it was necessarily about creating ‘a universal scope on dictatorships.’ Above all, I wanted the reader not to feel trapped in an overly specific reality.”
Born in Congo and raised in France, Malela embraces his dual cultural identity as a source of unique perspective: “It gives me enough distance to view the continent from a certain angle.”
Regarding the novel’s character Justin, a committed student, Malela explains he embodies the experiences under authoritarian regimes and their potential for change, rather than serving as a simple symbol of hope.
Malela also favours short, “quick read” formats, believing they help reach a broader audience. Looking ahead, he remains open to where his writing will lead next: “Wait for the next books! … It is the books that impose their agenda on me. So I will wait and see what surprises my pen still has in store for me!”
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