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Tales and narratives
The Sorosoro crew has gathered several narratives along their filming sessions. Tales, myths, and epics are strong vectors for the transmission of languages and cultures. Either from Gabon, Guatemala or elsewhere, either in Akele, Punu or Kaqchikel, Sorosoro is happy to introduce them, here.
The Mumbwanga: an epic of the Punu in Gabon
Punu is the language of the Bapunu, second largest ethnic group in Gabon in terms of population. It’s a Bantu language, spoken in the Tchibanga area. The increasingly important movement of Bapunu people towards larger urban areas is causing a gradual loss of their language and cultural knowledge.
Sorosoro was granted the rare opportunity to film this one of the main founding narratives of the Punu ethnic group. Nowadays very few storytellers are able to produce the Mumbwanga epic in its full version.
Save the Mumbwanga
The Mumbwanga – 1st part
The Mumbwanga – 2nd part
Linguist : Jean-Marie Hombert
Image and sound : Luc-Henri Fage
Editing : Caroline Laurent
The Tale of the Upstream God and the Downstream God in Akele (Gabon)
Akele is the language of the Akele people from Gabon. It’s a Bantu language, whose speakers are scattered around various parts the country. The Akele are fishermen and farmers living along the Ogooué and Ngounie rivers, and in the lake region around Lambaréné.
A tale (Apiret, in Akele) is an oral genre used as an educational tool. The Tale of the Upstream God and the Downstream God raises God as the source of knowledge and wisdom.
Linguist: Jean-Marie Hombert
Camera and sound: Luc-Henri Fage
Translation: Hugues Awanhet
Editing : Caroline Laurent
Story on slavery, in Akele (Gabon)
Jean Kédine tells us a true story reaching back to his maternal ancestors, and handed down generation after generation. Three brothers, one slave, a murder and the search for a vampire…
Linguist: Jean-Marie Hombert
Camera and sound: Luc-Henri Fage
Translation: Hugues Awanhet
Editing : Caroline Laurent
The marriage of Ogoula & Ilombè, in Mpongwe (Gabon)
This following video is the first part of a Mpongwe tale we recorded in 2009 in the outskirts of Libreville: the story of Ogoula and Ilombè, told by Jean Félix Ayenouet, one of the last great storytellers of the area.
Watch all our videos in Mpongwe
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Linguist: Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda
Image & sound: Muriel Lutz
Editing: Caroline Laurent
Animal tales in Baynunk (Senegal)
Let’s take off on a journey through the land of animals, in Senegal, in the company of storyteller Issouf Coly.
We are close to Ziguinchor, Casamance ; and with everyone around a bonfire Issouf begins tales that may remind some of the La Fontaine Fables. Though here, not a single reference to foxes or frogs: these are the forests of Africa, and the characters brought into the stories are the hyena, hare, monitor lizard, Billy goat and lion…
Watch all our videos in Baynunk
Tale 1: How the hyena escaped the monitor lizard
Tale 2: How the hare escaped the hyena
Tale 3: The hyena who thought she was stronger than the billy goat
Tale 4: How a child terrified the animals of the forest – Part 1
Tale 4: How a child terrified the animals of the forest – Part 2
Linguist: Sokhna Bao-Diop
Image & sound: Muriel Lutz assisted by Cheikh Tidiane Sall
Editing: Caroline Laurent
Video created within the ANR Sénélangues project
Historical narratives in Baynunk (Senegal)
Moussa, known as « the little cat »
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…
When the white man came to the village…
Storyteller Sékou Djikabo Coly tells the story of when some « white man » arrived hoping to take over the village. A gunfight followed, an unequal battle unfolding with no surprise…
Read more
Linguist: Sokhna Bao-Diop
Image & sound: Muriel Lutz, assisted by Cheikh Tidiane Sall
Editing: Caroline Laurent
Video created within the ANR Sénélangues project
Bedik Tales, in Menik (Senegal)
The orphan avenged by the forest
More info here
The adventures of Tama the hyena
More info here
The monkey who turned into a young woman
More info here
The young girl who wanted to drink beer
More info here
Linguist: Adjaratou Oumar Sall
Image & sound: Muriel Lutz assisted by Cheikh Tidiane Sall
Translation: Marcel Camara
Editing: Caroline Laurent
Videos created within the ANR Sénélangues project
