As part of the 4th edition of the European Price for love novels, the Amicale was pleased to welcome author Hemley BOUM on April 29, 2026 at the Alliance Française in Strasbourg.

Alongside cultural mediator Soufia Souai, the winner of the Francophonie Five Continents Prize presented her latest work, “Le Rêve du pêcheur,” a socially conscious and poetic novel blending the voices of Zacharias and his grandson Zack, two coastal fishermen from Campo, Cameroon. Their journey offers an immersion into the geographical realities and linguistic diversity of the author’s homeland.

Zack’s departure to study in Paris—idealized as a new Eldorado—marks the beginning of a major transition, notably involving shifts in family and romantic relationships. The question of transmitting memory and cultural heritage thus plays a central role in this powerful and deeply relevant narrative.

By exploring migration patterns and the issues surrounding them, this novel focuses on the depth of its characters, their personalities, and their desires. Meticulously crafted, the story blends fiction and reality, particularly through current events that have gradually shaped the narrative. 

This event, which was a truly lively and heartfelt moment of sharing, was enriched by engaging discussions with the audience. It was followed by a book-signing session set to the tune of Scatterlings Of Africa, a song by Johnny Clegg featured prominently in the novel!