Hunters' Narratives

NB: Add Cisse texts

Throughout West Africa, hunters have formed associations which serve a variety of purposes. In former times, they provided a cooperative network to regulate the hunting of game and to provide assistance for hunting the larger and more dangerous animals. Nowadays, their function is more cultural than practical, as the wildlife is disappearing and hunting no longer has its former economic importance. However, in Mande groups the songs of hunters remain a significant cultural form, and hunters' songs often take the form of extended narratives which closely resemble the historical epic singing. There are significant differences, beginning with the status of the performer. The singers of historic praises and epics are jeliw, members of a hereditary status group, whereas the singers of hunters' songs may come from any group.

This listing includes hunters' narratives from all the Mande groups; some of the narratives are listed separately under Mandinka. A reader interested in hunters' narratives should also look at the listing given under Songhay/Zarma, for in many cases the story-lines are quite similar.

Mieru Baa	Fanta Maa Hayidara pp. 14-111: bilingual	Bamana / Bozo	1977
Seydou Camara	Nyakhalen la forgeronne Thoyer 1986	Maninka bilingual	ca. 1980
	Manden Mori Cashion 1984, vol 2, App. II. pp. 1-166.	Maninka bilingual	1976
	Famori Cashion 1984, vol. 2 pp. 1-332.	Maninka	1977
	Kambili Camara 1974 and Camara 1976	Maninka	ca. 1970
	Bilali of Faransekila Conrad 1989, pp. 47-59.	Maninka English	16 Oct. 1975
	Fajigi Conrad 1981, pp. 730-765	Maninka English	Sept. 1975
**	Sumoso Yiraba McNaughton 1979, pp. 40-41	Maninka English	1976
**	Neri Koro McNaughton 1979, p. 13	Maninka English	1976
** Given only in summary; also classified as komo songs
Amara Fofana	Bamori and Kowulen Derive 1978	Dyula bilingual	4 March 1975
Bala Jinba Jakite	Dingo Kanbili Dosseh Joseph Coulibaly	Bamana French	1979
Mamadu Jara	Sirankomi Thoyer-Rozat, Chants vol. 1 pp. 27-119	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1975
	Kambili Thoyer-Rozat Chants vol. 2	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1978
	Manding Mori Thoyer-Rozat, Chants vol.1, pp. 158-213	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1978
	Banjugu Thoyer-Rozat, Chants vol.1, pp.120-157.	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1978
Bakari Kamara	Mambi and the Crocodile Innes and Sidibe 1990	Mandinka English	1969
	Mammadu and the Great Beast Innes and Sidibe 1990	Mandinka English	1969
Ndugace Samake	Birisi Ngoni Thoyer-Rozat, Chants vol.3, pp. 138-181	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1978
	Misiba Bamana Thoyer-Rozat, Chants vol. 3, 90 bis-137	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1978
	Bolinyana Thoyer-Rozat, Chants vol. 3, pp. 182-265	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1978
	Maghan Jan Thoyer-Rozat Chants,vol. 3, pp. 8-90	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1978
Batoma Sanogo	Bani-Nyenema Fode Sidibe 1984.	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1975
	Ndoronkelen Fode Sidibe 1984.	Bamana bilingual	ca. 1975
Mahamadu Lamini Sunbunu	Fanta Maa Hayidara pp. 113-201	Bamana / Bozo	ca. 1980

REFERENCES

Charles Bird, ed. and trans. "Bambara oral prose and verse narratives." in African Folklore, ed. Richard Dorson. New York: Anchor Books. 1972. pp. 441-477.

Seydou Camara. Kambili. Ed and trans. Charles Bird, Bourama Soumaoro, Gerald Cashion, Mamadou Kante. Bloomington, Indiana University Linguistics Club. 1974. Bamana text in 1976.

Gerald Cashion. Hunters of the Mande: A Behavioral Code and Worldview derived from the Study of their Folklore. Dissertation, Indiana University, 1984. 2 vols.

Youssouf Tata Cisse. Les confréries de chasseurs malinke. Paris: Karthala, 1994

David C. Conrad, ed. and trans. "'Bilali of Faransekila': A West African Hunter and World War I Hero ... " History in Africa 16 (1989) 41-70.

David C. Conrad. The Role of Oral Artists in the History of Mali. Dissertation, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1981. 2 volumes.

Dosseh Joseph Coulibaly, ed. and trans. Récits des chasseurs du Mali: Dingo Kanbili... de Bala Jinba Jakite. Paris. CILF/Edicef. N.D.

Marie-José Dérive. "'Bamori et Kowulen': chant de chasseurs de la région d'Odienné." in Recueil de littérature mandingue. Paris, 1980. pp. 77-109.

Shekh Tijaan Hayidara, ed. and trans. La geste de Fanta Maa. Niamey, CELHTO, 1987.

Gordon Innes and Bakari Sidibe, eds. and trans. Hunters and Crocodiles: Narratives of a Hunters' Bard Performed by Bakari Kamara. Sandgate, Paul Norbury/Unesco. 1990.

Main Page

African Epics Resource Page, by Stephen Belcher. © Stephen Belcher, 2000. HTTP://www.personal.psu.edu/spb3