Epic of Son-Jara - A West African Tradition

The fully annotated translation is accompanied by an introduction that provides a historical and contextual framework for understanding the recitation of this African epic.

List of contents

Preface

Introduction

The Hero

The Bard

The Text

The Epic

Annotations

Genealogy

Bibliography

About the author

JOHN WILLIAM JOHNSON is Associate Professor of Folklore at Indiana University and the author of two books and many articles on Somali and Mande linguistics and folklore.

Summary

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.

Product details

• Authors: John William Johnson, Johnson John William, Fa-Digi Sisoko
• Assisted by: Text by Fa-Digi Sisoko Notes Translation (Editor), John Johnson (Translation)
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.11.1994
• EAN: 9780253207135
• ISBN: 978-0-253-20713-5
• No. of pages: 162
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 234 mm x 13 mm
• Weight: 263 g
• Series: African Epic; African Epic; Indiana University Press (IPS)
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Other languages / Other literatures; Non-fiction book > Politics, society, business > Society