Oral Poetry from Africa
An Igbo fireside song from eastern Nigeria. The first half of the poem describes an act of kindness to a small bird. The second half describes a reverence for life which is its own reward. We are not sure what the chorus “Ngalama” refers to, if any Igbo readers could enlighten us please get in touch.
I was working quietly in my own farm
Ngalama…
A Yorùbá chant from Nigeria, consisting of a series of mock proverbs on the theme of vanity. Only by wearing ‘the appropriate dress’ can we recover a little of our dignity.
In blowing your nose, you must expose your teeth:
In stooping, one perforce exposes one’s seat…
A Hausa praise poem (see also Rano and Bawa Jangarzo). Daura, one of the ancient Hausa kingdoms, suffered a succession dispute in 1806, leading to the creation of three separate states.
You boy, take heed of the groundnut that sprouts a second year!
The old one, he can make spells…
Three Hausa poems from northern Nigeria, praising a professional drummer whose skills, with Allah’s help, have made him a wealthy man.
The drum drums health,
The drum drums wealth…
A Yorùbá song from Nigeria, sung by the wrestler as a prayer as he enters the arena. Each of the images takes for granted the wrestler’s natural superiority.
O Rat, help me to knock him down.
O Broken Stalk, assist me to lay him low…
