Madame Bâ was inspired by 2 novels by Erik Orsenna of which she is the heroine.
 Born in Mali, daughter of Ousmane, blacksmith, assistant director of the waterfall, and Mariama, "traditionist", that is to say scholar of all things from the past, Madame Bâ loves knowledge.
 Madame Bâ, when she needs to recharge her batteries, isolates herself under her tree...