Djaïli Amadou Amal was born in 1975 in Diamaré in the far north region of Cameroon and grew up in the capital city of Maroua. A Fulani author and activist fighting for women's rights, she founded and runs Femmes du Sahel, an organization dedicated to promoting the education and development of women in her region. She is the author of three previous books written in French, and the French edition of The Impatients was shortlisted for the 2020 Prix Goncourt and won the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens. Amal lives in France.