Cover -- Contents -- Abbreviations and Key Terms -- Introduction -- About Jazz-Text -- Part One: Batouala 'Fixed' Figé dans le temps, l'otage de sa Préface controversée -- 1. As if the Novel were Almost Irrelevant Batouala's Reception -- 2. The 'Absence' of Africa's Story Batouala's Historical Context -- 3. Véritable roman nègre Batouala's Literary Context -- Part Two: Batouala 'Free' Son jazz performance -- 4. Vous avez dit ambigüité ? -- 5. Let the Jazz Performance Begin Batouala's Preface -- 6. Idées préconçues s'abstenir Welcome to Africa -- 7. Civilised Time, Savage Time -- 8. Telling Your Story -- 9. Life-Fire, Death-Fire Life-Water, Death-Water -- Afterword -- Bibliography.