Aïssa Maïga

Two siblings battle over the life of their ailing mother who is lying in a coma. One wants to pull the plug. The other wants to keep her alive. One is male. The other is female. In a battle of wills, dark family secrets come to light, relationships are shattered and the true meaning of love is revealed. And through it all, the comatose mother can hear everything.

Bamako. Melé is a bar singer, her husband Chaka is out of work and the couple is on the verge of breaking up... In the courtyard of the house they share with other families, a trial court has been set up. African civil society spokesmen have taken proceedings against the World Bank and the IMF whom they blame for Africa's woes... Amidst the pleas and the testimonies, life goes on in the courtyard. Chaka does not seem to be concerned by this novel Africa's desire to fight for its rights... —Anonymous