EN Print 
|
Videos in Mpongwe – GABON
A word on the Mpongwe language…
Following the Akoa Pygmies, nowadays extinct, the Mpongwe people are the first inhabitants of Libreville, on the northern bank of the Gabon estuary. A few dwellings remained at Pointe Denis on the southern bank until the beginning of the 20th century. The Mpongwe are part of the Myene group, along with the Orungu, the Nkomi, the Galwa, the Adyumba, and the Enenga. The Myene area spreads from the northwestern to the southwestern coast around Fernan Vaz Lagoon, with a peak in the Lower Ogooue: a position thanks to which they have played a significant part in the Atlantic trade.
The Myene people are estimated around 50,000. Dialectal variations being very slight, mutual understanding is ensured between the speakers of different dialects.
The Mpongwe group counts fewer than 5,000 effective speakers. Du Chaillu had already accounted for very low figures regarding Mpongwe speakers 150 years ago. The Benga, from Cap Esterias and Cap Santa Clara, the Sekyani from Cocobeach and the Akele from Komo, long time neighbours, often blend into the Mpongwe group through marriage.
In awareness of their traditional heritage being threatened with extinction, the Mpongwe have created structures for the protection of their language and culture. The traditional chieftainship (Eka) plays a fairly important role in this perspective.
The videos in Mpongwe
The state of the language
Sorosoro is not only interested in preserving languages. We consider it just as important, during filming, to hear people’s opinions on contemporary issues.
The evolution of Mpongwe by Henriette
The evolution of Mpongwe by Kialla
Linguist: Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda
Image & sound: Muriel Lutz
Editing: Caroline Laurent
Tales and narratives
The marriage of Ogoula & Ilombè
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.
Part 1
More info here
Part 2
More info here
Part 3
More info here
Linguist: Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda
Image & sound: Muriel Lutz
Editing: Caroline Laurent
Music and songs…
Songs by Mrs Ozuwe
She’s from Gabon, she speaks… and sings in Mpongwe : meet Mrs Ozuwe! Discover her songs, verses and lullabies, filmed by Muriel Lutz in 2009.
Notice : Two of the songs featured in this video have no subtitles, as no one has been able to translated them at this point. Should you have a translation to suggest, however, please do not hesitate to contact us at: contact@sorosoro.org
Song by Henriette
She’s also from Gabon, she’s also signing for us… meet Henriette !
Linguist: Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda
Image & sound: Muriel Lutz
Editing: Caroline Laurent
Little words for everyday use in Mpongwe
It is interesting to compare languages through their use of daily words and expressions (too often!) held as universal. Our shooting teams are requested to gather names given to colors, body parts, numbers, daily phrases, insults and slang… from all their interlocutors in their respective languages.
Numbers
Colors
Body parts
Weekdays
Daily phrases
New words
Linguist : Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda
Image and sound : Muriel Lutz
Editing : Caroline Laurent
Recipes
Henriette gives us the opportunity to discover Mpongwe cuisine by sharing a recipe she holds from her grandmother:
Smoked threadfin on palm nut sauce.
Linguist: Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda
Image and sound : Muriel Lutz
Editing : Caroline Laurent
