African Myths of Origin

by Stephen Belcher

  For a general introduction to the history of the Futa Tooro, see David Robinson, The Holy War of Umar Tal (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1985). The bibliography on Fulbe history and oral traditions is considerable; see Stephen Belcher, Epic Traditions of Africa, pp. 142–63, for references.

  CHAPTER 70. MALICK SY AND BONDU

  The story of Malick Sy is well known. It was reported in the late nineteenth century by J. L.-B. Bérenger-Féraud, Recueil de contes popularies de la Sénégambie (Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1885; Nendeln: Kraus Reprint, 1970), pp. 141ff., and later from local sources by M. G. Adam, Légendes historiques du pays de Nioro, pp. 47–55, and H. Lanrezac in Le Folklore au Soudan (Paris: La Revue Indigène, n.d.), pp. 38–9.

  CHAPTER 71. THE TUAREG OF THE SAHARA

  The First Queen, retold from Boubou Hama, Recherche sur l’histoire des Touareg sahariens et soudanais (Paris: Présence africaine, 1967), p. 124, and from H. T. Norris, The Tuareg: Their Islamic Legacy and its Diffusion in the Sahel (Warminster: Aris and Phillips, Ltd., 1975), pp. 14ff. Children of the Jinns, retold from Norris, pp. 101–2; see also Hama, p. 125. The Origin of Matrilineal Succession, retold from Henri Duveyrier, Les Touareg du Nord (Paris: Challamel aîné, 1864), p. 398. The First Ihaggaren, retold from Jeannine Drouin, ‘L’Origine des Ihaggaran dans la tradition orale des Kel Dinnig’, Littérature orale arabo-berbère, 12 (1981), pp. 59–101. Ali Guran and his Nephew Adelaseq, adapted from Dominique Casajus, ‘Une série de mythes touareg’, Tisuraf (Paris: Groupe d’études berbères), 3 (1979), pp. 83–98; much the same cycle of stories is given in Mohamed Aghali Zakara and Jeannine Drouin, Traditions touarègues nigériennes (Paris: L’Harmattan, 1979), pp. 50–83.

  The Tuareg groups of the Sahara have fascinated outsiders for some time, and the literature treating of their customs, traditions and origins is very uneven. There is now also an Islamic overlay on many of their traditions. Henri Lhote provides a good example of an early study of the Tuareg peoples in Les Touaregs du Hoggar (2nd edn., Paris: Payot, 1955), as does Lloyd C. Briggs, Tribes of the Sahara (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1960). But for a comprehensive (indeed, encyclopedic) modern discussion of Tuareg society and material culture, see Johannes and Ida Nicolaisen, Pastoral Tuareg (2 vols., New York: Thames and Hudson; Copenhagen: Rhodos International, 1997). Dominique Casajus also offers analysis of Tuareg oral culture in Gens de parole: Langage, poésie et politique en pays touareg (Paris: Éditions la Découverte, 2000).

  Index

  Abalissa 447

  Abatama 288

  Abd el Tukruru 357

  Abdullah (Sow) 355

  Abdurrahman 360

  Abecher 355

  Abena 328–9

  Abomey 100, 320, 323, 325

  Abraha 360

  Abrapimon 354

  Abu Derday 433

  Abu-bekri bin Amer 433–4

  Abydos 121

  Achebe, Chinua 286

  Ad 334

  Adam 145–7

  Adamawa 253, 282, 436

  Adamites 145

  Adansi 330

  Adelaseq 454–6

  Adi-bu-ma 293–6

  Adja 101–103, 323–4

  Adjahuto 324

  Afo 288

  Africa xi–xiii, xvii, xx–xxii, xxv–vi, 49, 74, 119–20, 253–4, 303, 308, 372

  central xii, xxiii, 18, 215, 347

  eastern xii, xxiii–xxv, 49, 59, 69, 104, 142, 162, 195, 233

  northern xxv, 119, 437

  southern 3, 6 ff., 75, 96, 223, 237 ff.

  west xii, xxii, xxiv–xxv, 5, 34, 38, 40, 42, 53, 74, 104, 303, 341, 394, 436–38

  Afrikaner 237

  Afro-Centrism xix, 120

  Agasu 323–4

  Agbe 321

  Agbigbo 98

  Agé 39

  Agriculture xvi, xxiv, 3–4, 18, 49, 88, 150, 159, 162, 168, 182, 196, 227, 261–2, 290, 298, 304, 320, 327, 334, 348, 359, 385, (415), 428

  Agwa-Gede 325

  Ahe 355

  Aido-Hwedo 320–21

  Aissa Kili 363–4

  Ajapa 97

  Akan xxii, 303, 326 ff., *480–81

  Aki 292–3

  Ako Manoya 140

  Akurengan 265

  Akwa Boni 331

  Akwamu 327–8

  Akwammu 328–9

  Ale 286–7

  Alela 158

  Alena Kiri 266–7

  Ali Ghaji Zeimani 363

  Ali Guran 454–6, *491

  Ali Kolon 372–3

  Aliada dynasty 323–4

  Allah 296

  Almahaw 377

  Almine 375

  Almoravids 385

  Alzuma 379

  Ama 292–3

  Amamfi 327

  Amara 379

  AmaZulu (see Zulu)

  American 320, 425

  Amhara, -ic, 136, 143, 145, 148

  Amina Coulibaly 429

  Amma 342–3, 345–6

  Ananse xi, xvii, 104–116, 326–7, *464

  Angola xxiv, 223, 225, 237, 253–4

  Ankole 169

  Annabi 318

  Anokye 329–30

  Anubis 129–32

  Anushirwan 318

  Anyi 326

  Anzuru 378–80

  Aovi 101–2

  Arabia 136, 145, 166, 319, 433

  Arabic xx, xxii, xxiii, xxv, xxvii, 55, 133, 162, 318, 333, 341, 357, 359, 372, 382, 423

  Arabs 88, 145, 150, 233, 385, 422, 437

  Ark of the Covenent 138

  Aro-Chukwu 286

  Asantemanso 327–8

  Asara 315

  Ashanti xi, xxii, 104, 107, 111, 303, 326–30, 334, 464, 480–81

  Askiya Muhammad 454

  Assabu 330

  Assibu 327

  Athens xiv

  Ati-Idah 288

  Atiko 158

  Atlantic xxii, xxv, 53, 253–4, 257, 284, 303, 320, 332, 370, 392, 433

  Atum 121

  Axum 136

  Ayesha 360

  Baba 172–3

  Babali 19

  Ba-Bito (see Bito)

  Bachama 298–302, 318, *477

  Ba-Cwezi 169–70

  Badibu 422

  Badr (battle of) 382

  Baenga 211

  Baful 282

  Baganda 154

  Bagauda 368–9

  Baghdad 360, 365–6

  Bagirmi 357–8, *483

  Ba-Haya (see Haya)

  Bahr el-Ghazal 354

  Baka 158

  Bakindiki 425

  BaKongo (see Kongo)

  Ba-Kuba (see Kuba)

  Balafasa 208

  Bala Faseke Kuyate (see also Jankuma Doka) 406, 412, 424

  Balumbe 211, 213

  Bamako 393, 413

  Bamana xvi, 21, 333, 370, 413–21, 423, 436, *487–8

  Bambado 56–8

  Bambara (see Bamana)

  Bambuk 370

  Bambuti 18, 19

  Bamun (or Bamum) xx, xxvii, 253, 282–3, 292, *475–6

  Bananas xiii, xxiv, 4, 18, 20, 66, 168, 176, 189, 196, 200

  Bandiagara escarpment 340–41

  Bandiagara (town) 341

  Bani river 371, 382

  Bankim 283, 288

  Bantu (see under language)

  BaNyanga 268

  Baol 422

  Barbushe 368–9

  Barma 357

  Barozvi 241

  Bata (Egyptian) 129–32

  Bata (Nigerian people) 298–302, *477

  Bathsheba 138

  Ba’tonu 318

  Batswa 196

  Batta 258

  Batwa 213

  Baufre 125–6

  Baule xxii, 303, 326, 330–31, *480–81

  Baushi 231

  Bawo 368

  Bayajida 365–8

  Bayna Lekhem 138–9

  Bega 191

  Behanzin 325

  Belgian 257

  Bella 447

  Bemba 179, 228, 233–6, *471

  Bemba Nyakh
ate 391

  Bena Ngona 235

  Benin (city) xvi, xx, 288, 303, 304–7, 312, 317, *477

  Benin (Republic) xvi, 38, 100, 303, 318, 332

  Benue river 284, 292, 298, 301–2, 365

  Berber 446

  Berending 427

  Beti 261–2

  Bible 315

  Bida-serpent 386

  Bight of Benin 284, 320

  Bilal (see Jon Bilal)

  Bini 304–5

  Bintou Doucure 437

  Bio 319

  Bito 153, 170

  Biton Koulibaly 4, 6, 418–21

  Biung 336

  blacksmith 89, 185, 226, 240, 287, 291, 309, 334, 342–3, 346, 375, 393–94, 403, 408, 424

  Boers 237

  Bokele (Pygmy group) 196

  Bokele (Mongo) 197–201

  Bolenge 211–13

  Bolumbu 198–201

  Bondu 422, 441–4, *490

  Bongenge 213

  Bongolobokyakonga 208

  Bono 328

  Bonsela 213

  Borana 145

  Borgu 303, 313, 318–19, 371, *479

  Bornu xxiii–iv, 282, 292, 296–7, 319, 347, 348, 355, 359–64, 369, *483–4

  Boswe 208

  Botswana 6–7, 51

  Bozo 21, 383, 413

  Braima 315–16

  Brazil 320

  British 304, 320, 365

  Bubu 427

  Buganda xvi, xxiii–xxiv, xxviii, 64, 168, 170, 176–181, *468–9

  Buha 193–4

  Bu-Haya (see also Haya) 176

  Buka Phangu 254–5

  Bulala 359, 363–4

  Bulanda 220

  Bulu 261–2

  Bunyoro xxiii, 64, 153, 168, 170–75, 180, *468

  Bure 370

  Bureng 426

  Burkina Faso 53, 338

  Burundi 64, 169, 185, 187, 192–4, *469

  Busa, Bussa 318–19, 371

  Bushmen 3, 6

  Bushong 215, 217, *470

  Busoga 168, 181

  Bwilile 288

  Byeeng 217

  Byekela 208

  Byzantines 319

  Cameroon xxiii, 18, 53, 253, 261, 268, 282, 284, 286, 298, 365, 436

  Campbell, Joseph xvi

  Caribbean 100, 303, 320

  cattle xvi, xxii–iii, 49–73, 142, 153, 168, 170, 176, 178, 187–8, 190, 238, 248, 298, 371, 436–7, *461–2

  Caxer 429–30

  Cayor 422

  Central African Republic 88

  Ceygooru 379

  Chad, Lake xx, xxii, 49, 53, 253, 292, 347–8, 353, 357, 359

  Chagga 69–73, *462

  Chaminuka 239–40

  Chari river 354

  Cheops 123, 125–28

  Chi (see Chukwu)

  Chibinda Ilunga 224–5

  Chido 292

  Chilufya 236

  Chilufya Mulenga 234–6

  Chilumbulu 235–6

  Chinese xxv

  Chinyama 223, 225

  Chiti 234–6

  Christians xviii, xix, 136, 147, 76, 257, 315

  Chu-fu (see Cheops)

  Chukwu 287

  Chunburburai 368

  Chwa Nabakka 180–81

  Cogaz 7–9

  colonial xix, xxvi, 239, 244, 92, 298, 309, 382

  colonization xiii, xxi, xxvi, 119, 68, 233, 237, 248, 257, 86, 348

  colony 68, 237, 248, 257

  Comoe river 330

  Congo (Brazzaville) 18, 253

  Congo (Democratic Republic) 18, 82, 88, 195, 215, 219, 53, 257

  Congo river 18, 197, 253–4, 257

  cook (-ed, -ing) xiv, 13–14, 16, 22, 41, 43, 71–2, 76–7, 79, 86, 89, 151, 155, 165, 171, 177–8, 198, 202, 208, 219, 227, 240, 249, 270, 310, 336, 343, 353, 407, 410, 426, 441

  Coptic 150, 315

  Côte d’Ivoire 34, 303, 326, 330, 334

  Dã (or Dan) 325

  Dabi 406

  Dada Segbo 323

  Dagbon 334

  Dagomba 333, 334–7, 338–9, 342, *481

  Dagoye 145, 147

  Dahomey 100, 303, 320–25, *479–80

  Dak 151–2

  Dakar 428

  Daken 330

  Dako (see also Hwegbadja) 324

  Dala (Hausa) 368

  Dala Birni 358

  Dala Ngumani 361–2

  Daman Gille 389–91, 439, 442

  Dañ 39, 42,

  Danish 104

  Dankaran Turnan 403–7

  Dan Mansa Wulanba 398–402

  Dan Mansa Wulanden 398–402

  Darassa 13940

  Daura 365, 367–8

  Daussahane 375

  David 138

  Death xix, 4, 35–36, 45, 62, 67–8, 87, 97–8, 114, 120–21, 126, 129, 133, 137, 144, 148, 151, 153–4, 172, 178–9, 181, 184–5, 187, 189, 201, 211, 213–14, 225–7, 230, 238, 241, 245, 251, 272, 291–2, 296, 298, 301, 306–7, 315, 320, 327–30, 338, 343–4, 355, 360, 363–4, 386, 394–5, 412, 416–17, 426, 431, 437, 447–8 (see also Aki, Rufu, Walumbe, Wun)

  Dedi 126–7

  Demsa 302

  Dendi 371, 376–8

  Deniyanke, –obe 422, 439, 441

  Denkyira 327–30

  Diabate 392, 40

  Diakite 438

  Diallo 438

  Diaobe 439

  Diara (see also Jara, Soninke kingdom) 442

  Diarra 416–18

  Diawara 391

  Dim 151

  Dinga (see Mama Dinga)

  Dinka 49, 142, 150, 153

  Diop, Cheikh Anta xix, 120

  Djabe 386–8

  Djadjaemonkh 125–6

  Djenne xvi, 304, 371, 382–4, 413, *486

  Djenne-Jeno 382

  Djilof 432

  Djimon 283

  Do (or Du) 397–9, 401, 405

  Dodo 367

  Dogon 334, 340, 341–6, *482–3

  Domaa 329

  Dongo 442–3

  Dorobo 59

  Drums 38, 78–9, 100, 103, 113–14, 165, 194, 221, 226, 291, 321, 343, 374, 388, 393, 397, 430–1

  Du (see Do)

  Duala 253, 268–81, *475

  Du Kamisa 397

  Dumogo-nya-Mogo 397–8, 401

  Dutch 237

  Duwat 151

  Dzivaguru 239

  Ebuli 288

  Edegi (see Tsoede)

  Edo 306

  Egharevba, Jacob xx

  Egypt xix–xx, xxii, 119–135, 136, 150, 282, 304, 308, 318, 360, 365–7, *465

  Ekaladerhan 305

  Èke 288

  Emecheta, Buchi 286

  Eminia N’Zima 257–8

  English 176, 237, 359

  Engome 280–81

  Entonto 211, 213

  Ere 304

  Eri 286–7

  Erla 358

  Esagho 305

  Esau xix

  Eshu, Eshu-Elegbara 97–100, 314, 316, *463–4

  Esinmirin 314

  Es-Sadi, Abdurrahman 372

  Ethiopia xx, xxii, 119, 136–41, 142–3, 147–8, *465

  Europe (and Europeans) xxi, 50, 145, 237, 257, 268, 284, 304, 308, 320, 326

  Evian 305

  Eweka 306

  Ewuare (see also Ogun) 306

  Fa divination (see also Ifa) 38, 100–103, 303, 320, 323

  Fabekondoro 28–9

  Fakoli 406, 410

  Fang 253, 261–7, *474–5

  Fante 326

  Fara Makan 21, 30–33

  Fare 301

  Farimonzon 376–7

  Farin Tunkara 405, 408

  Faro 393–4, 414–16, 419–20

  Fati 372

  Fetefete 209

  Fezzan 363

  fire xiv, 9–10, 12–14, 20, 40–41, 46, 52, 61, 70, 76, 84, 86, 89, 90, 93, 111, 144, 146, 151, 155, 160, 174, 184–6, 190, 192, 199–200, 202, 204, 213, 217, 226–7, 231, 240, 251, 278, 295–7, 299, 314, 323, 343–4, 357, 398–9, 411, 425–6, 434; –arms 371; –drill 251; –place 398, 403; –side 407,
418; –starter 71, 202

  firewood 10, 46, 52, 63, 80, 106, 140, 144, 155, 177, 206, 222, 249, 270, 316, 398

  Fogny 425

  Fon 38, 97, 303, 320–25, *458, 464, 479–80

  Fono 30–33

  Foumban 283

  French 320, 325, 341–2, 392, 413, 428, 439

  Freud, Sigmund xiv

  Fula, Fulani, Fulbe 49, 53–8, 253, 282, 298, 302, 341, 347, 357, 359, 365, 371, 374–5, 379–80, 413, 428, 431, 433, 436–40, 461, 490

  Furies xiv

  Futa Jallon 53, 423, 436, 438

  Futa Tooro 53, 422, 431, 433, 436–40, 441, *490

  Gabon 18, 253, 261

  Gabou (see Kaabu)

  Gabra 145

  Gadiaga 441

  Gafomo 64–5

  Gakanisha, Clement 182

  Galla 143, 159

  Gama-Gorib 250

  Gambia 34, 385, 392, 422–5, 428, 433, 436, 439

  Ganda 181

  Gao 370, 376, 447

  Garo 152

  Gasani 183

  Gashubi 65, 187–8

  Gaunab 252

  Gayna 378

  Gaza 138

  Gbadu 100

  Gbeso 301

  Genesis xviii

  German 69, 166, 258,

  Ggulu 176–7, 180

  Ghana (empire, see also Wagadu) xxiv, 370, 385, 392

  Ghana (Republic) 104, 284, 303, 326, 332, 334, 370–71

  Ghuna 333

  Gibe 145

  Gifol 154–7

  Gihanga 64–5, 185–8

  Gikuyu 142, 159–61, *467

  Gilgamesh 145

  Gipir 154–57

  Gitanga 193

  Gobir 301, 379–81

  Gogobiri 315

  gold XXV, 114, 124, 128, 237, 310, 326, 329–30, 333, 347, 350, 353, 370–71, 382, 388–90, 392, 395–98, 400–401, 408–9, 420, 423, 429, 442; –en age xvii, 392; –en stool 329

  Gold Coast xx, 104, 284, 326

  Gondar 149

  Gonja 333, *481

  Good Hope, Cape of 7, 237

  Goulfeil 353–4

  Gow 21–30

  Gragn, Ahmed or Mohammad 136, 147–9

  Greeks xiv, 120

  Griaule, Marcel 341, 345

  Gu 321

  Guidimakha 385

  Guinea 53, 104, 370, 392, 406–7, 423, 436, 439

  Guinea-Bissau 422

  Guji 139

  Guma 145–7

  Gurunsi 334

  Gwandu 319

  Haal-Pulaaren (see Fula) 422, 436

  Hadramaut 334

  Hamabulki 301

  Hamagenin 301

  Hamitic thesis 51, 168

  Han-gai-gaib 250–51

  Hardedef 126

  Harrar 148

  Hathor 123, 130

  Hausa xxiii, 53, 284, 290, 303, 315, 318, 326, 347, 359, 365–9, 378–9, 436, *484

  Haya 66–8, 169, 176, *462

  Heitsi-Eibib 51–2, 248–52, 461, 473

  Herodotus 133

  Hindu xviii

  History of the Yorubas 308

  Hoggar 347

  Homer 18

  Horus 120–23

  Hottentot 248

  Houdas, O. xxvii

  hunters, – ing xvi, xxii–iii, 3–48, 168, 196, 201, 268, 293, 296, 298, 304, 309, 315, 334, 338, 348, 378 ff. 398 ff., 404, 418–19, 423–4, *458–60