This book examines memory cultures within italophone migration literature. Starting with a definition of the genre ‘migration literature’ and its current situation in Italy, it subsequently gives an overview of the most important stages of the development of memory theory, on which the research project of this thesis is based. Essentially, the author examines what and who is remembered, and how memories are formed in the selected works of the two Italo-Somali writers Shirin Ramzanali Fazel and Igiaba Scego. This in-text analysis examines the mimesis of individual and collective memories, as well as their contents, triggers and functions. In their short stories and novels, Fazel and Scego devote particular attention to themes such as migration and diaspora, Italian colonialism and postcolonialism, identity, transculturality and racism. In their works, memories are the point of origin to show historical and social similarities between the two countries Somalia and Italy. At the same time, they locate the past in the present. Fazel and Scego criticise Italy's way of dealing with its colonial past, which is characterised by oblivion and ignorance. According to the writers, today's racism and the neo-fascist tendencies of the Italian population result from this failure to deal with the past. To counteract this, Fazel and Scego engage in active remembrance work by pointing out personal and collective places of memory and giving an insight into life far from home or between several societies. They adopt a postcolonial stance by breaking away from the binary concept of colonised - colonist and consequently redefine social and national boundaries.
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