The Legend of Dandara: A Translation and Critical Analysis

Abstract

Throughout history, black voices have been systematically silenced and retold from the viewpoint of the oppressor, if they are told at all. However, contemporary black writers are endeavoring to retell the stories of their ancestors, as is the case with Afro-Brazilian writer Jarid Arraes and her book, As Lendas de Dandara (2016). In this study, I translate the first half of Arraes’s novel into English for American audiences. By researching the book’s historical background (including the 17th century history of resistance from the Quilombo of Palmares) and critically analyzing my translation process, I lay the framework for both finishing and publishing the translation. Historical research, a close reading of the text, and an interview with Arraes reveal central themes of the book, which include oralism and storytelling, Afro-Brazilian religion, feminism and machismo, and black resistance and resilience. Dandara’s lack of historical documentation and the general skepticism regarding her existence also play a key role in the book’s creation. My overarching, creative choice is to preserve some of the “foreignness” from the source text; while reading the translation, I want the reader to feel slightly uncomfortable with how the familiar context of slavery and black resistance clashes with the details of a story, history, and culture that are distinctly (but not necessarily identifiably) Brazilian. Major challenges of the translation include creating a poetic, storytelling-like tone and register in English, adapting my translation process to working with prose, and contemplating the extent of my creative license. I conclude with a note about demystifying the translation process and increasing collaboration within the translator community.