The Baggara, meaning “cow-herders”, are composed of several Arab groups living in that part of the Sahel region between Lake Chad and southern Kordofan.
The fair ones, Mahmud’s three daughters,
Umm Misel daughter of Kir…
Two War Songs of King Mphande
Two war songs relating to King Mphande, Zulu king (1840–72), (see Praises of King Mphande). Half-brother to both Shaka (1816–28) and Dingane (1828–40), Mphande was regarded as too weak to be a threat when Dingane assassinated Shaka in 1828 and seized the throne.
He was rejected by Ndhlela
He was rejected…
The Mouse, the Squirrel and the Tortoise
Iremoje for Ogunjinmi
The following Iremoje was part of the dirges chanted at the funeral of a deceased hunter, Ogunjinmi, whose name means “the god Ogun blesses or favours me”.
Ogunjinmi, you have caught your father’s dog.
A needle that falls into a pit is lost forever…
Praises of King Mphande Zulu
Another set of izibongo praises for King Mphande (Zulu king from 1840–1872 and half-brother to both Shaka and Dingane, see also Praises of King Mphande Zulu), recorded by E.W. Grant in the mid-1920s.
Here are the praises of Mpande of Noziqubo,
Umamiude who appeared by the head-crest…
Iremoje for Pa Ogundele
The following poem is part of the dirges chanted at the funeral of a deceased hunter, Pa Ogundele, by Atoyebi at Agunpopo, Oyo in 1975. Pa Ogundele was a member of the hunters society, the Asipade, (see The Asipade) for whom magical charms are an essential tool for capturing animals and surviving in the forest. However, whilst these charms are highly prized ultimately no magic can defeat death.
Ajuwon Akanbi,
Hunter, I thought you had egba magic…