Tété-Michel Kpomassie was born in Togo and subsequently left his native Africa and traveled to the north of Greenland in a journey that lasted ten years. An African in Greenland, an autobiography that chronicles his journey, was awarded the Prix Littéraire Francophone International in 1981 and its English translation was one of The New York Times' Notable Books of the Year in 1983. Kpomassie has also written numerous articles and short stories for French publications.