In my left pocket. Grazia Le Mura, a narrative of life and lives

Nella mia tasca sinistra ("In My Left Pocket"), by Grazia Le Mura is a powerful and necessary novel that blends personal narrative with collective memory in the post-colonial context of Burkina Faso. At the heart of the story is Djuma, a young African girl fighting against forced marriage and seeking dignity, freedom, and self-determination. Though published in a sociological series, the novel reads like a coming-of-age story and cultural essay, merging storytelling with sharp social insight. Le Mura, a missionary with over 30 years of experience in Africa, weaves in local traditions, languages, landscapes, and spiritual complexity—juxtaposing African deities, Islam, and the Christian God. Djuma’s refusal to accept imposed fate makes her a symbol of female empowerment. The novel explores themes of colonization, identity, faith, and the beauty of everyday life, captured in the music, dance, and harsh climate of the African bush. A celebration of wonder, resistance, and a liberating image of God.