Ouagadougou: Burkinabe writer Abraham Ouessena Abassague held a book signing on Monday in Ouagadougou for his new novel entitled "The Last Sacrificer," a 166-page work that raises questions about the excesses linked to the unbridled pursuit of wealth and power.

According to Burkina Information Agency, literary critic Parfait Ilboudo indicated that the work fully fulfills its mission by drawing society's attention to deviant behaviors that undermine human dignity. Through a plot blending drama, mysticism, and social realism, the author immerses the reader in a world where some individuals, driven by ambition, do not hesitate to resort to occult practices and illegal means to achieve their goals.

The novel is set in Ouagadougou, specifically in the Zogona district, in the late 1970s. The story highlights Sarah, a central figure with an enigmatic past, around whom a story rich in tensions and twists unfolds, he informed. Mr. Ilboudo indicated that the work's originality lies particularly in its narrative structure: the story opens with a tragic scene before gradually retracing, over ten chapters, the events that led to this denouement. Supported by an omniscient narrator and structured around dreams, the text maintains suspense while exploring the psychology of the characters in depth.

The speakers highlighted the social significance of the novel. They emphasized that the pursuit of wealth and power can lead some individuals to commit inhumane acts, thus recalling the need for a return to fundamental Burkinabe values such as respect for life, probity, and integrity. Beyond fiction, the novel positions itself as a genuine tool for social education, particularly for young people. It encourages prioritizing legal and ethical paths in the pursuit of well-being, while warning against dangerous shortcuts with sometimes irreversible consequences, the literary critic emphasized.

For his part, the general manager of Editions Hector-Adams, Julien Hugues Batieno, praised an "authentic and original" writing style, highlighting the quality of the narration, the depth of the characters and the coherence of the plot. The ceremony's sponsor, Abdoulaye Sourgou, CEO of the Omega International group, congratulated the author on the relevance of his literary work and the depth of the themes he explored. He also urged the promotion of reading, particularly among young people, to foster critical thinking and personal development.

Priced at 5,000 CFA francs, "The Last Sacrificer" stands out as an important work of contemporary Burkinabe literature. It is available at CENASA, Librairie Jeunesse d'Afrique, and Librairie Mercury.