Oral Poetry from Africa
A previous Shona clan praise published here was of the Shumba Murambwi, whose totem is the lion. The following clan praise is of the Tembo-Shumba, the “Zebra-Lion”, a mythical totem animal that serves as the emblem of the Mutasa people, whose homestead is Manyikaland in eastern Zimbabwe.
Thank you, Zebra.
Thank you Chiwara,
Hornless beast of the wilderness,
The Well Dressed One…
One variety of praise poetry common across Africa are praises for one’s own clan. The Shumba Murambwi praise poem celebrates the ancestors and lineage of a Shona clan from Zimbabwe. Whilst recorded by Hodza in 1985, many of the allusions to events, personages and places within this poem are provided by Alec Pongweni from his fascinating book The Oral Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe.
Thank you, The Rejected One
Thank you, the Lion…
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…
