ABSTRACT
The work of ethnologists and Africanists stresses the importance of myth in traditional black African societies, which are characterized by a close link between the social and the sacred. While the one friend decides to use the wealth to acquire power and the second prosperity, Hammadi, who is unconcerned with material things, seeks to conquer knowledge and sacrifices his gold to this end. The theme of the journey appears frequently in the modern African novel, which can thus be regarded as an avatar of the traditional initiatory story. More generally, it is by re-using traditional symbols that contemporary African novelists seek to revive, if not the structures and substance of the myths, at least their language. This is an instance of modern theatre, itself a form of ritual, celebrating the heroes of the past; but by explaining the ancient myth and bringing it up to date.
