Du tabou sexuel à la construction d’une identité sexuelle controversée dans la littérature orale africaine. Une analyse du conte La femme charmante

The study focuseson the representation of the sexual taboo in African oral tradition, principally in the tale “The charming woman”, which is found in various African cultures. Its purpose is to examine the processes and issues involved in the textualization of the desacralisation of sex considered taboo in African oral tradition. Using the analytical tools offered by Jean Pierre Richad’s thematic criticism, the article shows that the representation of the transgression of the sexual ban in the fictional community fosters tolerance of a marginal sexual identity. “The charming woman” is therefore an oral text that deals with the current problem of controversial sexual practises.KEYWORDS:African tale, woman, sexual taboo, transgression, sexual identity