Polo Kouman / Polo Speaks

Henri-Michel Yéré, an Ivoirian and Swiss poet born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, is the author of three collections. His second collection, Mil Neuf Cent Quatre-Vingt-Dix, was short-listed for the Ivoire Prize for Francophone Writing, while the original bilingual edition of Polo kouman / Polo parle was a finalist for the Grand Prix Littéraire d'Afrique Noire and a winner of the Rotary-PEN Club International Award for Poetry. Yéré received a BA in history and politics at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, followed by an MA in African studies and a PhD in contemporary history from the University of Basel, Switzerland.Todd Fredson is a poet, a critic, and a translator of West African literature. His most recent book, a translation of Bété poet Azo Vauguy's work, the double-translation Zakwato & Loglêdou's Peril, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle's Barrios Book in Translation Prize. Fredson's work has been supported by Fulbright and NEA fellowships, a Virginia G. Piper Fellowship for Cultural Exchange, and other kindnesses. He holds a PhD in creative writing and literature from the University of Southern California. Learn more at toddfredson.com.

• Translator's Note: What's to Come—Language Origin StoryTranslationsI. Polo kouman / Polo SpeaksII. Les gbês de Devant / Tomorrow's Hard TruthsIII. Gban-gban / The ClashIV. En même temps est mieux / Better to Just Get on with ItNouchi and FrenchI. Polo kouman / Polo parleII. Les gbês de Devant / Les vérités de DemainIII. Gban-gban / L'affrontementIV. En même temps est mieux / RésolutionAcknowledgments

"A groundbreaking translation that opens up new worlds. Yéré writes these poems in both French and Nouchi, and the language difference is, among other things, a reflection of the brilliant ways that new artistic and linguistic forms emerge in response to colonial impositions. By bringing us right into what cannot be translated, Fredson demonstrates that the constraints and limitations of translation are a source of experimental possibility, which he approaches respectfully, innovatively, and with acrobatic excellency." - Daniel Borzutzky