“Whenever I Think Of Us, He Is Me And I Am Him.” Book Review: At Night All Blood Is Black By David Diop

Before I read this book, I was unaware of another David Diop, a writer (particularly in the African setting.) I only knew of the David Diop associated to the negritude movement. David Diop- the negritude writer who wrote poems and novels to support the Negritude movement. Recently, I discovered another David Diop who is also as interesting as the Negritude Writer. David Diop was born in Paris and raised in Senegal. He is a professor at the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour.

HOW DID I DISCOVER THIS BOOK?

Currently, I'm working on a project that revolves around the issue of displaced identity. In simple words, displaced identity is a state where an individual’s sense of self is conflicted due to circumstances. A very good example of displaced identity can be seen in Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi’s Americanah. Ifemlu, a Nigerian protagonist, leaves for America, a foreign country. She struggles with her environment, experiencing conflict with her old self and new identity. She struggles to blend in with the people around her, the food, and her new environment. Let’s use a simpler example as a case study: a boy grows up in Africa, tending to his father’s sheep and cows, only to wake up the next morning in another country, with guns and bombs in his hands. The shift from a shepherd to a killing machine will definitely affect his identity. Hence, displaced identity. In my quest to read books exploring the issue of displaced identity, I came across “At Night All Blood is Black” by David Diop.

ABOUT THE BOOK

At Night All Blood is Black was written by David Diop, a professor at the University of Pau and Pays de. At Night All Blood is black is his second novel. It was published in 2020. As mentioned earlier, this book explores the issue of identity. Unlike other books (at least unlike most books I have read), this book explores the issue of identity from a different perspective- war. Have you ever wondered to what extent war can affect soldiers' identities? On the outside, most of these soldiers are heroes with shiny medals on their uniforms, but do you know the psychological effect of wars on their identities and mental health?

PLOT SUMMARY

At Night All Blood is Black takes us on a profound exploration of war and its effects on identities. The novel revolves around Alfa Ndaje, who grew up in an African country with his parents and best friend, Mademba Diop. He lived a typical African life, doing everyday things, playing with friends, and telling stories under the night sky. The narrative takes an interesting turn when Alfa Ndiaje and his best friend, Mademba Diop, decide to seek greener pastures in France and the only way to do this is to join the war (the Second War.) The two remain inseparable, even during the war. However, the narrative takes a deeper turn when Mademba dies in the most cruel way imaginable. Although the name of the killer is not mentioned, we have it that the killer has “blue eyes.” The killer brings out his intestine and leaves him to die. Although Mademba begs Alfa to end his suffering, he refuses “What will I tell your parents at home that I killed my best friend.” After Mademba Diop dies, Alfa Ndaje’s “former” identity ends. His identity undergoes a drastic change.

He transforms into a savage soldier who kills and mutilates his enemies, removing their intestines and severing their hands as trophies. Picture this- a young boy who used to be a farmer, turns into a psychotic killer. He would throw himself in front of war, afraid of death. Sneak up on the enemy, name him, and remove his intestines. No matter how much they beg him, he doesn't listen. At first, his squad mate praised him after bringing back the hand, but after his fourth, they realized how mad he was.

After reading, I came up with these points:

• The psychological effects of war on soldiers

We find them losing their sense of self and questioning their being. They ask themselves questions like: who am I? The conflict between their old identity and their new identity causes them to lose their sense of self. Alfa Ndajie’s savagery started with his first hand. His squad mates praised him and celebrated after he returned. They bathed him and gave him extra food. But after his fourth, they started to fear him and even tagged him a monster- the soldier sorcerer. The captain gives him a compulsory break from war. He visits a psychologist who tries to help him find himself.

• War and children

During the world wars, children were not spared. “Children from Alpha beta with empty palms dine with us.” This is a line from Birango Diop’s The Dining Table. This line speaks about how innocent children are not spared by the evil hands of war. They are involved in it, whether directly or indirectly. Those who are directly affected are on the battleground, while those who are not directly affected are suffering the impacts of war. This is evident in David Diop’s At Night All Blood Is Black.

• War and trauma

Have you ever wondered if soldiers sleep peacefully at night? I mean, some of these soldiers are given tough jobs where they have to do unimaginable things. These things cause trauma and that's why they sometimes use drugs to cure them.
Overall, At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop is a masterpiece. It explores the issues of identity, war, and trauma. On a scale of 1-10, this book gets a solid 7 from me. I recommend this book to all book lovers.

Images in this post are mine, otherwise stated.

Thanks for reading.