Bøger af John William Johnson

The epic of "Son-Jara" (also known as "Sunjata" or "Sundiata") celebrates the exploits of the legendary founder of the "Empire of Old Mali" and is recited among Mandekan-speaking peoples of West Africa. This text provides historical and contextual frameworks for understanding this African epic.

The famous epic of "Son-Jara", celebrating the exploits of the legendary founder of the Empire of Old Mali some 750 years ago, is widely recited today among the Mandekan-speaking peoples of West Africa. This text presents a full linear translation of a performance of the "Son-Jara" epic recorded in its heartland in west central Mali.

This completely new edition is the only scholarly work on the poetry of popular and mass culture among a people who are renowned for their passion for poetry. Johnson traces the beello movement from its origins as a youth culture, which in its early days was concerned with themes of love and pleasure. It later became the medium for freedom songs in the pre-independence period, for the expression of modern political ideas, political protest, rallying songs and social comment, many examples of which are cited in this volume. Heello became the most dynamic form of Somali poetry in this century. This edition uses modern Somali script.

Introduces English-speaking readers to the extensive epic traditions in Africa.