CONTENTS
MAN IN AFRICA, AND HIS LITERATURE
THE ANCIENT SONINKE AND FULBE EPICS
GASSIRE'S LUTE (Soninke)
THE REDISCOVERY OF WAGADU (Soninke)
THE FIGHT WITH THE BIDA DRAGON (Soninke)
SAMBA GANA (Soninke)
THE BLUE BLOOD (Fulbe)
THE VALIANT GOROO-BÄ-DICKO (Fulbe)
SAYINGS OF THE FULBE
THE MESSENGER TO MAFTAM (Soninke)
8
11
16
19
25
27
33
37
38
KANEM-BORNU
THE TWO TRADERS (Kanuri)
THE SAU HUNTER (Kanuri)
A CHRONOLOGY OF KINGS AND MIGRATIONS IN
KANEM-BORNU
HOW THE KANURI MARK THE TIME OF THE DAY
41
41
42
42
44
THE HAUSA, AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR ORIGIN
HAUSA RELIGIOUS POETRY
SEIDU THE BRAVE (Hausa)
LIFE AND DEATH (Hausa)
THE SON OF THE HUNTER (Hausa)
THE FRIEND AND THE LION (Hausa)
TWO GIZO TALES
THE SPIDER AND THE CROWS (Hausa)
SPIDER DEALS WITH THE FAMINE (Hausa)
SOME HAUSA PROVERBS AND SAYINGS
45
53
54
56
57
59
60
60
62
66
FOUR TALES OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
CONTEST AT THE BAOBAB TREE (Hausa)
THREE FRIENDS CROSS THE WATER (Hausa)
THE STRONG ONE (Mende)
THREE FAST MEN (Mende)
67
67
68
69
70
LION OF MANDING (Wolof)
THE KING OF SEDO (Wolof)
71
78
Courlander, Harold
A treasury of African folklore
1996
digitalisiert durch:
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VÜi
A TREASURY OF AFRICAN FOLKLORE
THE SONG OF GIMMILE (Gindo)
80
THE GLUTTONOUS ANSIGE (Karamba)
82
THE COW-TAIL SWITCH fjabo)
PREACHMENTS OF THE ANIMALS (Grebo)
KRU WAR SONG
HAMMER AND CHISEL RHYTHM (Mano)
85
88
89
89
THE AKAN PEOPLES OF GHANA
AKAN POETRY
DRUM POETRY OF THE AKAN PEOPLES
DRUM POEMS TO ONYAME, THE SUPREME DEITY (Akan)
AKAN SAYINGS ABOUT NYAME (ONYAME)
THE DRUM-HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MAMPON (Ashanti)
CHIEFDOM AMONG THE ASHANTI
A SONG FOR THE NEW CHIEF (Ashanti)
SOME ASHANTI PRO VERBS
SAYINGS AS GUIDES TO GOOD SOCIAL BEHAVIOR (Ashanti)
RIDDLE (Ashanti)
FOUR ASHANTI TALES
THE COMING OF THE YAMS (Ashanti)
JOURNEY TO ASAMANDO, LAND OF THE DEAD (Ashanti)
O THE WORLD! (Ashanti)
TALK (Ashanti)
GOLD AND GOLD WEIGHTS (Ashanti)
ASHANTI PROVERBS AND SAYINGS CAST IN BRASS
THE SEARCH FOR GOLD (Ashanti)
ANANSI, TRICKSTER HERO OF THE AKAN
AN ANSI PROVES HE IS THE OLDEST (Ashanti)
ANANSI OWNS ALL TALES THAT ARE TOLD (Ashanti)
ANANSI'S RESCUE FROM THE RIVER (Ashanti)
ABEREWA'S SWORD (Ashanti)
ANANSI BORROWS MONEY (Ashanti)
ANANSI GIVES NYAME A CHILD (Ashanti)
HOW DEBT CAME TO ASHANTI
THE COMPETITION FOR NYAME'S DAUGHTER (Ashanti)
THE HAT-SHAKING DANCE (Ashanti)
ANANSI PLAYS DEAD (Ashanti)
THE KING'S DRUM (Ashanti)
91
92
95
97
100
101
111
114
115
117
118
118
118
120
124
126
128
129
134
135
136
137
139
140
142
143
145
146
148
149
151
THE WALL OF MILLET (Togo)
153
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ix
DAHOMEY, T H E KINGDOM BUILT IN D A S BELLY
THE GODS O F DAHOMEY, THEIR EXPLOITS
TO EACH IS GIVEN HIS DOMINION (Fon)
THE RULE O F SKY AND EARTH DELIMITED (Fon)
SOGBO BECOMES MASTER O F T H E UNIVERSE (Fon)
SAGBATA'S CONTROL O F EARTH STABILIZED (Fon)
SUN GOD BRINGS IRON TO MAN (Fon)
SERPENT AS HEADREST FOR AN OVERBURDENED EARTH
(Fon)
THE PEOPLE WHO DESCENDED FROM THE SKY (Fon)
ORIGIN O F T H E PEOPLE O F T H E AGBLO QUARTER (Fon)
HOW LEGBA BECAME CHIEF O F THE GODS (Fon)
EXPLOITS O F THE ALADAHONU DYNASTY (Fon)
ORIGIN O F THE ROYAL SIB (Fon)
HOW THE ALADAHONU KINGS CAME TO RULE ABOMEY (Fon)
THE KING AND THE NAGO (Fon)
HOW BEHANZIN FOUGHT AGAINST THE WHITES (Fon)
SEEKING POVERTY (Fon)
TWO DAHOMEAN SONGS FOR T H E DEAD
SOME DAHOMEAN RIDDLES
SOME DAHOMEAN PROVERBS
157
159
160
161
163
165
166
THE YORUBA
DEEDS AND ADVENTURES O F T H E YORUBA GODS
THE DESCENT FROM T H E SKY (Yoruba)
IRON IS RECEIVED FROM OGUN (Yoruba)
ORANMIYAN, THE WARRIOR HERO O F IFE (Yoruba)
ORUNMILA'S VISIT TO OWO (Yoruba)
SHANGO AND THE MEDICINE O F ESHU (Yoruba)
OBATALA'S VISIT TO SHANGO (Yoruba)
HOW SHANGO DEPARTED FROM OYO (Yoruba)
YORUBA WARRIORS, KINGS AND HEROES
OGBE BABA AKINYELURE, WARRIOR O F IBODE (Yoruba)
THE BURNING O F THE ELEKUTE GROVE (Yoruba)
OGEDENGBE'S DRUMMERS (Yoruba)
OLOMU'S BUSH RAT (Yoruba)
THE YORUBA TRICKSTER, IJAPA
HOW IJAPA, WHO WAS SHORT, BECAME LONG (Yoruba)
IJAPA CRIES FOR HIS HORSE (Yoruba)
IJAPA AND T H E OBA REPAIR A ROOF (Yoruba)
IJAPA AND YANRINBO SWEAR AN OATH (Yoruba)
IJAPA AND T H E HOT-WATER TEST (Yoruba)
IJAPA GOES TO THE OSANYIN SHRINE (Yoruba)
IJAPA IN YORUBA PROVERBS
THE WORSHIP O F TWINS AMONG THE YORUBA
184
185
189
194
196
199
201
203
205
211
211
213
216
219
221
221
223
224
226
227
229
231
233
167
167
168
170
172
173
173
175
177
179
181
182
183
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A TREASURY OF AFRICAN FOLKLORE
HOW TWINS CAME AMONG THE YORUBA
TWO TALES FROM BENIN
IGIOROMI (Bini)
OZOLUA AND IZEVBOKUN (Bini)
HOW BRONZE CASTINGS WERE MADE AT BENIN
236
238
240
244
246
ONUGBO AND OKO (Idoma)
248
THREE ISOKO SONGS FROM ILUE OLOGBO
253
THE EKOI PEOPLE OF THE CALABAR COAST
OBASSI NSI AND OBASSI OSAW (Ekoi)
HOW THE FIRST RAIN CAME (Ekoi)
HOW THE MOON FIRST CAME INTO THE SKY (Ekoi)
HOW ALL THE STARS CAME (Ekoi)
HOW THE RIVERS FIRST CAME ON EARTH (Ekoi)
THE EGBO SECRET SOCIETY (Ekoi and Efik)
HOW THE FIRST EGBO IMAGE CAME
HOW THE EFIK LEARNED TO COOK THEIR MEAT
AN EFIK LAMENTATION
255
255
257
259
263
267
270
276
278
279
THE FEAST (Bamum)
BRASS CASTING AMONG THE BAMUM
SOME CAMEROON SAYINGS IN PIDGIN ENGLISH
THE JOURNEY OF THE AFO-A-KOM (Kom)
THE ORIGIN OF THE KOM KINGDOM
279
280
282
283
284
THE A-MBUNDU OF ANGOLA
MBUNDU HUMAN TALES: KINGS, HUNTERS AND HEROES
KING KITAMBA KIA XIBA (Mbundu)
THE YOUNG MAN AND THE RIVER (Mbundu)
KINGUNGU A NJILA AND NGUNDU A NDALA (Mbundu)
TWO MEN, ONE WOMAN (Mbundu)
A FATHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SON-IN-LAW (Mbundu)
THE YOUNG MAN AND THE SKULL (Mbundu)
THE WHITE MAN AND THE NEGRO (Mbundu)
THE PAST AND THE FUTURE (Mbundu)
SQUIRREL AND THE KINGSHIP (Mbundu)
DOG AND THE KINGSHIP (Mbundu)
DOG AND LIZARD (Mbundu)
DOG AND JACKAL (Mbundu)
THE HOUSE-HOG AND THE WILD BOAR (Mbundu)
286
293
293
295
297
298
300
301
301
302
303
303
303
304
304
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xi
PARTRIDGE AND TURTLE (Mbundu)
LION AND WOLF (Mbundu)
FROG AND HIS TWO WIVES (Mbundu)
DINIANGA DIA NGOMBE AND DEER (Mbundu)
305
305
306
306
NZAMBI AND NZAMBI MPUNGU (Kongo-Fiote)
THE BIRD MESSENGERS (Kongo-Fiote)
NZAMBI MPUNGU'S AMBASSADOR (Kongo-Fiote)
WHO BEATS NZAMBI'S DRUM? (Kongo-Fiote)
NCHONZO NKILA'S DANCE DRUM (Kongo-Fiote)
NZAMBI'S DAUGHTER AND HER SLAVE (Kongo-Fiote)
THE CREATION OF LAKE BOSA (Kongo-Fiote)
HOW THE SPIDER WON AND LOST NZAMBI'S DAUGHTER
(Kongo-Fiote)
LITIGATION AMONG THE FIOTE PEOPLE
LITIGATION AMONG THE BAMBALA
307
308
308
308
309
311
312
313
315
317
MNEMONICS FOR A YOMBE SONG
319
THE MWINDO EPIC (Nyanga)
322
SOME SONGS OF THE LUBA PEOPLE
THE SUPREME DEITY OF THE LUBA
352
356
HOW I SHALL BE ADMIRED (Bene-Mukuni)
357
THE STORY OF MUKANA-LWEWO (Lamba)
358
TEACHINGS OF THE CHAGGA ELDERS
NOTHING ON EARTH IS CLEVERER THAN THE FEMALE SEX
(Chagga)
WE ARE LITTLE SNAILS WHO SEEK REFUGE BEHIND THE
FRONDS OF THE BANANA TREE (Chagga)
CHIEFS ARE LIKE THE RAIN (Chagga)
EATING ALONE BRINGS RUIN (Chagga)
THE HEAD OF A MAN IS A HIDING PLACE, A RECEPTACLE
(Chagga)
361
SOME TRADITIONS AND STORIES OF THE GANDA
362
363
364
365
366
368
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A TREASURY OF AFRICAN FOLKLORE
THE FIRST KING OF UGANDA (Ganda)
THE LEGEND OF KINTU (Ganda)
MPOBE AND DEATH (Ganda)
NDYAKUBI AND NDALAKUBI (Ganda)
SOME PROVERBS AND SAYINGS OF THE GANDA
368
369
372
374
375
HOW THE MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS WERE MADE (Akamba)
376
WANJIRU, SACRIFICED BY HER PEOPLE (Kikuyu)
THE LOST SISTER (Kikuyu)
MUKUNGA M'BURA (Kikuyu)
THE MAKING OF IRON AMONG THE KIKUYU PEOPLE
379
381
383
384
MUSIC AMONG THE BONGO
389
SCHWEINFURTH GETS TO SEE THE AKKA PYGMIES
A SONG OF THE TWA PYGMIES OF RWANDA
392
398
SOME LITERARY TRADITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BANTU
399
ORIGIN OF THE TSONGA OR SHANGAAN PEOPLE
SOME CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF THE TSONGA OR
SHANGAAN PEOPLE
SHANGAAN CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES
STORYTELLING AMONG THE SHANGAAN
THE ADVENTURES OF PAPAJU (Shangaan)
THE STORY OF XIKHIBANA (Shangaan)
TENDEJUVA THE HANDSOME (Shangaan)
SHINANGANA'S CHRONOLOGY
401
402
403
404
406
420
425
433
THE ORIGIN OF THE VENDA PEOPLE
435
HOW PHUTI BECAME A TOTEM OF THE TSWANA PEOPLE
MUCH SEARCHING DISTURBS THINGS THAT WERE LYING
STILL (Tswana)
SOME TSWANA PROVERBS
437
439
440
A XHOSA REPROVES A MISSIONARY
440
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XÜi
HOW GOD DISTRIBUTED PROPERTY (Xhosa)
441
THE STORY OF UMKXAKAZA-WAKOGINGQWAYO (Zulu)
THE KING'S CHILD AND UBONGOPA-KAMAGADHLELA (Zulu)
UNCAMA-NGAMANZI-EGUDU'S JOURNEY TO THE OTHER
WORLD (Zulu)
THE MAN WHO THREW AWAY HIS BREAD (Zulu)
HOW THE ZULU EXPERIENCE SYMPATHY THROUGH THE
NAVEL
SOME ZULU RIDDLES
NEWS FROM ZULULAND
FRAGMENTS OF THE ZULU PAST IN SONG
443
457
469
472
479
480
THE HEMP SMOKER AND THE HEMP GROWER (Shona)
SHONA WALKING SONG
484
487
THE BUSHMEN AND THE HOTTENTOTS
THE COMING OF THE SUN IN THE SKY (Bushman)
THE SON OF THE WIND (Bushman)
THE WIND IN THE FORM OF A BIRD (Bushman)
THE LION'S DWELLING PLACE (Bushman)
THE CLOUD-EATERS (Hottentot)
THE FISH-STEALERS (Hottentot)
A NAMA WOMAN MARRIED TO AN ELEPHANT (Hottentot)
THE HORSE CURSED BY THE SUN (Hottentot)
THE ORIGIN OF DEATH (Hottentot)
488
489
491
493
493
495
496
497
498
499
SOME EASTERN CATTLE PEOPLES
THE TUTSI OF RWANDA AND BURUNDI
THE HUNTING RITUAL OF TUTSI KINGS
ROYAL DRUMS OF THE TUTSI
IBABAZABAHIZI (Tutsi)
ABAGOMBOZI POETRY OF THE TUTSI
GIHILIHILI: THE SNAKE-PERSON (Tutsi)
500
500
502
505
505
506
509
SOME MASAI MYTHS AND TRADITIONS
HOW THE MASAI GOT THEIR CATTLE
WHY MAN DIES AND DOES NOT LIVE AGAIN (Masai)
HOW THE MASAI SPLIT OFF FROM OTHER PEOPLE
THE SUN AND THE MOON (Masai)
THE STARS (Masai)
SUNRISE AND SUNSET (Masai)
510
510
511
511
512
512
513
466
467
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A TREASURY OF AFRICAN FOLKLORE
THE RAINBOW (Masai)
COMETS (Masai)
SHEET LIGHTNING (Masai)
THE STORY OF THE FLOCKS AND THE RAIN AND THE SUN
(Masai)
THE STORY OF THE NIGHT AND DAY (Masai)
EARTHQUAKES (Masai)
VOLCANOES AND STEAM JETS (Masai)
ORIGIN OF THE LUMBWA PEOPLE (Masai)
THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS (Masai)
513
513
514
THE NUER AND GOD
517
DIALOGUES WITH EUROPEANS (Shilluk)
520
ETHIOPIAN BEGINNINGS: THE AXUMITE EMPIRE
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA LEGEND: THE FOUNDING OF THE
SOLOMONIC DYNASTY (Ethiopian)
HOW MAKEDA VISITED JERUSALEM, AND HOW MENELIK
BECAME KING (Ethiopian)
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA (Ethiopian)
MENELIK'S RETURN TO AXUM, AND HOW HE BECAME KING
(Ethiopian)
THE TEN CHURCHES OF LALIBELA (Ethiopian)
A PROCLAMATION OF MENELIK II (Ethiopian)
THE SENSE OF WHAT IS JUST: FIVE ETHIOPIAN TALES
THE DONKEY WHO SINNED
THE GOATS WHO KILLED THE LEOPARD
THE JUDGMENT OF THE WIND
FIRE AND WATER, TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD
JUSTICE
FOUR POEMS FROM THE AMHARIC
522
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE MENSA BET-ABREHE
CREATION AND DEATH (Mensa)
THE ROM, A RACE OF GIANTS (Mensa)
HOW THE GIANTS DISAPPEARED (Mensa)
CERTAIN YEARS AS THEY ARE REMEMBERED IN MENSA
BET-ABREHE TRADITION
PHILOSOPHICAL AND PROVERBIAL SAYINGS OF THE MENSA,
AND THE TALES FROM WHICH THEY DERIVED
THE TWO DONKEY OWNERS (Mensa)
THE PROPHET AND THE HYENA (Mensa)
514
514
514
514
514
515
523
524
532
533
537
540
542
542
543
543
545
546
547
549
550
550
552
553
556
556
556
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XV
THE PROVERB OF ADEG WAD FEDEL (Mensa)
GOD'S GIFT TO CHILDREN (Mensa)
A PROVERB MADE BY THE AD TAKLES PEOPLE
THE LEOPARD IN HIS OLD AGE (Mensa)
THE DEBBI (Mensa)
THE DESCENT OF MOUNT GADAM (Mensa)
DANNAS AND HIS SLAVE (Mensa)
THE HEWAY SNAKE (Mensa)
THE POISON OF THE CHAMELEON (Mensa)
THE TAIL OF THE WOLF (Mensa)
HISTORICAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE MENSA
THE FIGHT AT BALQAT (Mensa)
THE BATTLE OF SANGERA (Mensa)
KANTEBAY SALLIM AND ALI WAD MAO (Mensa)
HOW THE GAME OF FERSIT IS PLAYED
THREE LAMENTS OF THE MENSA BET-ABREHE
557
557
557
558
558
560
560
560
561
561
562
562
562
564
566
567
THE SOMALI AND SWAHILI
OGGE BEN ONOGH (Somali)
THE BATTLE OF EGHAL SHILLET (Somali)
THE LION'S SHARE (Somali)
ADVENTURES OF ABUNUWAS, SOMALI HERO
569
569
570
573
574
THE STORY OF LIONGO (Swahili)
POEM OF LIONGO (Swahili)
A SWAHILI POET OF MOMBASA
SWAHILI DANCE SONG
583
587
591
592
APPENDIX. EXCERPT FROM A UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON
BRIDE PRICE
594
BIBLIOGRAPHY
603
INDEX
609