<P> So Long a Letter, Mariama Bâ's first novel, is literally written as a long letter . As the novel begins, Ramatoulaye Fall is beginning a letter to her lifelong friend Aissatou Bâ . The occasion for writing is Ramatoulaye's recent widowhood . As she gives her friend the details of her husband's death, she recounts the major events in their lives . </P> <P> The novel is often used in literature classes focusing on women's roles in post-colonial Africa . It won the first Noma Prize for Publishing in Africa in 1980 . </P> <P> So Long a Letter is written as a series of letters between the main character Ramatoulaye Fall and her best friend Aissatou following the sudden death of Ramatoulaye's husband Modou from a heart attack . The letters are written while Ramatoulaye participates in' iddah, a four month and ten day mourning process that widows of the Muslim Senegalese culture must follow . Through the letters Ramatoulaye describes the emotions that flooded her during the first few days after her husband's death and speaks in detail about how he lost his life . She then discusses the life that she led with her husband, leading up to when Modou betrayed her by taking a second wife without her knowledge after 30 years of marriage . Ramatoulaye details to Aissatou how she dealt with this betrayal emotionally and how she grew throughout each event in her life . </P> <P> Senegal was home to many indigenous peoples during precolonial times . Around the 9th century AD Islamization spread throughout Senegal due to the expansive trade routes throughout Western Africa . Today, roughly 90 percent of Senegalese society follows Muslim religion while the remaining 10 percent follows forms of Christianity or mixed religions . Although many people follow Muslim religion, Arabic culture is not practiced in Senegal nor is Arabic spoken as the language . Much of their legal codes are from translated passages of the Qu'ran . French colonialism came to Senegal in the 1800s and enforced a separation of church and state . However many still abide by the Qu'ran's laws which shape ideas of gender roles, family life, marriage, and the patrilineal male dominated society . </P>

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