Noahmia of Sousa. Translation from “Black Blood” to French generates debate

ANDa statement to the agency to Lusa, French translator Elisabeth Rodrigues told that she discovered the book “Black Blood”, by Mozambican poet Noémia de Sousa, in a Book Fair in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2016, and it took eight years for the publication to leave in France by the French publisher Editions Project’île.

The work captivated the translator for her “strength, energy [and] revolt”, but above all for portraying “the path of a woman in the history of colonial emancipation” and the “articulation between the life [of Noémia de Sousa] and the personal commitment she had in the context of affirming Mozambican cultural identity”.

“ It is very important because it is as if the text called me to translate ", said Elisabeth Rodrigues, stressing that he felt a real need to give a French voice to the work of the one who is considered the "mother of Mozambican poets".

To overcome the striking rhythm, orality and musical references of the text without losing the original identity, the translator said she resorted to constant listening to jazz and ‘spirituals’, as well as to the reading of authors with a lyrical and appealing writing.

Given the cultural specificities and the mixture of languages such as Portuguese, Ronga and English, the use of a glossary was “absolutely inevitable,” Elisabeth Rodrigues revealed.

The translator said she had the help of the daughter of Noémia de Sousa, Virginia Soares, the teacher and friend of the poet Nelson Saúte, and the writer António Cabrita.

Asked about the reception and reaction of French readers to “Sang Noir” (title in French), the interpreter said that “there were few reactions from the publication”, but pointed out that in French university circles the book was well received and integrated the debates on African identity and blackness.

About the demands of the translation work, Elisabeth Rodrigues recalled that “even the simplest [texts] are difficult”, because “nothing is simple in translation and, above all, in poetry”.

The translator also said that the poems “Our voice”, “Poem of distant childhood” and “Miss of the docks” are among her favourites.

About the nomination of “Sang Noir” for the Fetkann Literary Award! Maryse Condé, in the Poetry category, in 2025, the translator admitted to being taken by surprise, but did not hide satisfaction.

“It’s a great honor,” he said.

Elisabeth Rodrigues — who claims to have been born “in Portuguese” and live “in French” — has a long history in the dissemination of Lusophone literature in the Francophone space, translating for more than 20 years authors such as Mia Couto and, more recently, the work “Misericórdia”, by Portuguese writer Lídia Jorge.

Carolina Noémia Abranches de Sousa Soares, better known as Noémia de Sousa, which marks the centenary of his birth on September 20, died in 2002, in Cascais, Lisbon.

The Mozambican journalist, translator and poet is considered one of the most striking figures in Mozambican literature and anticolonial combat.