Pap Khouma’s autobiographical novel I Was an Elephant Salesman (Io Venditore di Elefanti) is one of the earliest examples of migrant literature in Italy. The book recounts his experiences as a street vendor in Milan, navigating daily life in a bustling city while confronting racism and bureaucratic challenges.
Khouma’s narrative combines sharp humour with self-reflection, offering both a survival strategy and a critique of the social environment around him. Beyond a personal memoir, the novel serves as a social document, illustrating the difficulties faced by African migrants in Italy during the 1980s and 1990s, and highlighting the ways they coped with exclusion and marginalization.
Through this work, Khouma not only expresses his own identity but also challenges prevailing stereotypes about migrants. His perspective emphasizes inclusivity, resilience, and intercultural understanding.
