We’re unfortunately unable to provide context to this story, told by Sékou Djikabo Coly and devoted to quite a disreputable character, Moussa, nicknamed « the little cat ». This is Casamance, on Baynunk territory, near Niamone. Moussa is a Jola, raised by the Muslim Mandinka people, who returns to loot the Baynunk and kidnap for ransom… something of a genuine highwayman.

But Moussa The Little Cat will not have the last word. The Baynunk are wise and clever, and they’ll end up getting rid of the crook…

Reminder: Baynunk is a language spoken in southern Senegal, as well as in neighbouring Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. It belongs to the Niger-Congo family (North-Atlantic branch, Tenda-Nyun group) and includes several dialectal variations. In 2006, Ethnologue.com estimated the number of Baynunk speakers around 6,200, figures leading to consider Baynunk an « endangered language » according to UNESCO standards. Widely understudied, Baynunk was finally codified in 2005 and now comprises an official spelling system.

Watch all videos in Baynunk

Linguist: Sokhna Bao-Diop

Image & sound: Muriel Lutz, assisted by Cheikh Tidiane Sall

Editing: Caroline Laurent

Video created within the ANR Sénélangues project