Kodjo Adabra has been a member of the Geneseo faculty since 2010. His primary research deals with sub-Saharan Francophone African literature from Post-colonial Africa, with a focus on diasporic literature, literary transnationalism, migration, identity and exile. He extensively worked on the journalistic work in PNPA (Peuples Noirs Peuples Africains) by Franco-Cameroonian author Alexandre Biyidi-Awala, alias Mongo Beti. He also developed secondary research interests in African cinema, nego-feminism, and sociolinguistics. He has authored four books: a monograph and two novels in French, and a memoir in English.
In addition to his awards and recognitions at SUNY Geneseo, he received the SUNY System-wide Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2020, and the Chancellor's Award for Internationalization (CAFI) in 2011.
Office Hours: SPRING 2024
Mondays: 03:00pm-04:15pm
Wednesdays: 02:15pm-03:30pm
Curriculum Vitae
Education
- Ph.D., Francophone Literatures, University of Tennessee
- M.A., French Studies, North Carolina State University
- M.S., Management, Université de Lomé, Togo
- B.S., Management, Université de Lomé, Togo
Affiliations
Elected CUR Councilor in the Arts and Humanities Division (CUR: Council on Undergraduate Research).
Member of :
- ALA (African Literature Association)
- CIEF (Conseil International d'Etudes Francophones)
- AATF (American Association of Teachers of French)
- NeMLA (Northeast Modern Language Association)Proceedings Reviewer at NCUR (National Conference on Undergraduate Research)
Published books
- Adabra, Kodjo. Human Folly, 2025. (Forthcoming book)
- Adabra, Kodjo. The Power of An Untamed Mindset: A Story of Resilience, Florida - USA: Gatekeeper Press, 2023. (Book - Memoir)
- Adabra, Kodjo. La bêtise humaine, Lome - TOGO: Editions Awoudy, 2015. (Book - Novel)
- Adabra, Kodjo. L'œuvre journalistique de Mongo Beti: Contours et regard critique. Saarbrücken - GERMANY: Presses Académiques Francophones, 2013. (Book - Monograph)
- Adabra, Kodjo. L’exilé, Nice - FRANCE: Editions Syracuse, 2007. (Book - Novel)PS. The list of my scholarly and peer-reviewed published articles is available upon request.
More About Me
My Geneseo Personal Website
Other Interests
- Creative writing
- Study abroad in Senegal
- French for Business
- Poetry
- Films
- Martial Arts (Shotokan Karate)
Classes
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FREN 213: IntermedFrenchGrammCult&Comm
An exploration of cultural and contemporary topics at the intermediate level via a variety of materials (such as print, film, internet, and/or music) and peer-oriented activities that enable students to continue developing the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. This course must be taken in residence.
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FREN 335: French for Prof: Work Abroad
Contemporary French language as it applies to professional operations with attention to understanding and composing business letters and other professional documents. Oral communication and elements of French culture related to good business practices is emphasized.