Mbarek Ould Beyrouk je uznávaným zastáncem svobody projevu, který ve své literární tvorbě často zkoumá hluboké společenské a kulturní otázky. Jeho próza se vyznačuje pronikavým pohledem na lidskou psychiku a složité vztahy mezi tradicí a modernitou. Beyroukovy příběhy, zasazené do živoucího mauritánského prostředí, vtahují čtenáře do víru emocí a nutí k zamyšlení nad univerzálními lidskými tématy. Jeho jedinečný vypravěčský styl nabízí poutavý vhled do světa, který je zároveň cizí i povědomý.
The narrative unfolds through the alternating perspectives of a father imprisoned and his son navigating life outside, highlighting the clash between traditional values and the encroachment of modernity in sub-Saharan Africa. This poignant exploration delves into themes of survival, familial bonds, and the impact of societal change, creating a haunting reflection on the challenges faced by individuals in a rapidly evolving world.
"The Desert and the Drum reveals a hidden Bedouin world and what happens when its values clash with those of contemporary urban life. It was awarded the Ahmadou-Kourouma Prize in 2016 and is the first novel from Mauritania to be translated into English. Everything changes for Rayhana when foreigners with strange machines arrive to mine for metal near her Bedouin camp. One of them is the enigmatic Yahya. Her association with him leads to Rayhana to abandon all that she has ever known and flee alone to the city. But when her tribe discover she has stolen their sacred drum, they pursue her to exact their revenge. The Desert and the Drum tells of Rayhana's rift with her family, the disturbing characters she encounters in the metropolis, her attempts to distinguish friend from foe and to find a place for herself amidst the contradictions of contemporary Mauritania"--Back cover