Raphaëlle Red

Adikou can barely pronounce her own name, but the whole world wants her to explain and categorise herself. Then, one oppressively hot summer, she can no longer stand it in Paris. Adikou flees and sets off for Togo, the country of her father, about whom she knows so little. The narrator has no choice but to follow her. Adikou is determined to stay as long as it takes to find something of herself. A name, a family, a trace, a presence. Or maybe just a more breathable air.

‘Adikou’ is the first novel by author Raphaëlle Red, and was translated into German by Patricia Klobusiczky in close collaboration with the author.

*BIPoC means Black, Indigenous, People of Colour and is a political self-designation by and for people who have experienced racism.

**Queer is a political self-designation of people who deviate from the social norm in terms of gender identity or sexual orientation and identify, for example, as trans, non-binary, inter, asexual, lesbian, bisexual or gay.