Anthropology 346 & French in translation 221
The Oral Literature of the Sénégambia
Kandioura Dramé and J. David Sapir
The course concentrates on two major genres: the griot tradition of the Manding and the
traditional extemporaneous funeral songs of the Kujamaat Jóola.
Beyond the readings listed text packets will be distributed. If time permits the Jóola
texts will be available at the copy center on Elliewood Avenue. That will depend on the time
delay. The course grade will be base on a mid term, a final and a term paper on a topic
related to the course. Class attendance and participation will also count in the grading.
- Background
- Description of the course
- Presentation of Senegambia region: maps
- Languages with maps by Sapir
- Griots I (Drame)
- D.T.Niane - Sumdiata: an Epic of Old Mali
- Film on video: Keïta: The Heritage of the Griot (Drame &
Helweg)
- J. Helweg on Mande Hunters and epic stories
- Jóola funeral songs buñansang (Sapir)
Click here for audio segments of Añara's verses
(you will need a sound card and a plug in to play the .mov sound format)
- For you listening pleasure I have here a five minute cut of the Jóola secular
drumming call the bugáar.
It consists of one drummer playing on three
or four drums. The drummer wears wrist rattles. He is accompanied by singing and the
clapping of wooden blocks.
- Jóola work songs and women's Ñalen songs.
- Griots II (Drame & Helwig)
Readings and discussions of Barlaban, a Mandinka Epic
Five audio cuts from the Barlaban recording.
- Folktales I (Sapir) - Jóola folktale cycle:
- The fabricated child;
- Weaver birds;
- Boy and his herd.
- Sound tape of the Lizard and Hyena folktale.
Folktales II (Drame)
- Birago Diop -Tales fo Amadou Koumba
- Film on video Fary L'Anesse
- Proverbs
Selections from Mandinka, Jóola, Wolof traditions.
E-mail Mr. Dramé at kd4j@virginia.edu and Mr.
Sapir at ds8s@virginia.edu