What is the author's style in The Dark Child by Camara Laye?

Originally written in French, The Dark Child, sometimes translated as The African Child, contains many African words and names. The reader should keep in mind that a translation of a work might not have the same quality, sound, or rhythm as it does in its original language.

The sentence structure is simple and straightforward, which lends trust and honesty to the text. Imagery is scattered here and there between explanations of ritual and rites, and this interspersed imagery adds beauty to the narrative. The dialogue is very natural and doesn't sound old-fashioned as one might expect from a novel written more than half a century ago and translated into another language. Dialogue is often left free of tags, which can be a bit confusing at times.