Quote by Sony Labou Tansi: “Writing is breathing for me. It is a necessary evil.”

This quote highlights the author's intense, almost involuntary connection to writing, comparing it to a fundamental human need like breathing. Calling it a 'necessary evil' suggests that while it might be a challenging or even painful process, it is absolutely essential for his existence and self-expression, despite its burdens.

Tansi's writing was often a direct, visceral response to the political turmoil and human suffering in his native Congo and across Africa. This statement reflects the vital, almost desperate urgency of his literary output, seen in works like 'The Antipeople,' as a means of processing and resisting oppressive realities.

Congolese playwright, novelist, and theatre director considered one of the most important voices in Francophone African literature. His 1979 novel La Vie et demie was a landmark of African magical realism, and he founded the Rocado Zulu Theatre Company in Brazzaville. He died of AIDS-related illness in 1995.