Acknowledgements

The translator would like to thank:

 

Bel Parker, for her invaluable and inspired assistance at an early stage of the manuscript, especially with the representation of Algerian Arabic in English, her suggestion to move the Tsunami chapter, and for helping to voice Cindy in chapter 11. Also, for her energetic eye and brilliant wit.

 

Rohan Ayinde for his wisdom in advising on the voice of Mehdi Mazouani in freestyle dialogue, so that distilling some of the rhythm and vibrancy and texture of French backslang spoken by a young man of Algerian heritage – and reimagining it riffing off multiethnic urban English – holds true as an act affection.

 

Bibi Bakare-Yusuf for believing passionately in this book’s journey into the English language for readers from Abuja to Brixton and far beyond.

 

Mathias Rambaud and Louise Cambau for generously facilitating a short stay at the Institut Français in London to finish the first draft of this translation – gifting me with no worldly responsibilities and only a guinea pig for company.

 

Steve Cook, Dr David Swinburne and Katharine McMahon at the Royal Literary Fund, and Will Forrester at English PEN – for their luminous support.

 

And, finally, Faïza and Rebecca Carter for the vibrant odyssey of our friendship over the years, and which keeps nourishing us.