Oral Poetry from Africa
There is a Swahili proverb that says “Huyui kilacho nyuki, asali hungeiramba” — “You do not know what the bees eat. If you did, you would not lick up the honey”. The following song by taarab singers Siti Muharam and Mohamed Issa Matona of Zanzibar, explains why this may be.
Bee, you make me sad
Truth I tell you…
Sory Kandia Kouyaté (1933–1977) was born into the Kouyaté line of griots who have served as poets, oral historians, advisors and counselors to the Keita dynasty since the 13th century, when Sundiata Keita founded the Mali Empire.
Oh Sadio, the hippopotamus from Bafoulabe
Oh Sadio, the hippopotamus from Bafoulabe …
The story of Dubulihasa strictly falls within the tradition of Xhosa folktale (nstomi) and not poetry (izibongo) but I thought readers would find it interesting as the story has at its heart a song that is repeated throughout the tale.
“Dubulihasa!, Dubulihasa!
You must go, Dubulihasa!..
Another of the thousands of poems associated with the Ifá oracle of the Yorùbá people (see also How Leopard got his honour). There are 256 different Odù or branches of Ifá poetry, and many hundreds of different poems are associated with each Odù. The Ifá priest learns these poems during many years of training.
The twisted wooden stump which crosses the road in a crooked way.
Ifa divination was performed for Lion…
