NCAC_RDD_TAPE_0446A

• A group of female griots are singing behind Balabo while he recites the history of Bundu and Futa Toro
• Genealogy of the rulers of Bundu 

Summary

The tune from the four- string musical instrument called Lagiya was first introduced by a great griot named Sewi.  The griots commonly played Nyawla tune earlier before Lagiya was introduced.  The tune was derived from the sound of a bird known as Lori in Pulaar. This occurred when Samba Gilajegi was traveling with Sewi and he was asked to play the sound of the bird.  The tune was first played between the Tarass and Jeengi.

Following the death of Samba Gelaajo’s father he was succeeded by his uncle Konko Bubu Musa.  However, Bubu Musa controlled all the inheritance of Samba Gelaajo. 

They had a dispute over the inheritance after Samba requested it. His uncle responded to that his inheritance was the women and cattle that his father left.

Samba returned and informed his father’s griot Sewi, who demanded that he go and ask him again.  He went and was informed that his father left gun and gunpowder. After telling Sewi about this, it was exactly what he needed.

Sewi took Samba Gilajegi to his father’s marabout to prepare him for a war.  They later continued to Tarass in the North of Mauritania.

Samba Gilajegi was a descendant of the Konyaji tribe from Fouta Jallon.  He was the only child of his parents.  His father died before he was born.

When he was born, he was reared by his Uncle Bubu Musa the ruler. It was predicted that his uncle’s reign would be ended by the son of his elder brother.

During that period Kumba Jorngal was pregnant with Samba Gilajegi. Bubu Musa ordered men to guard her while Sewi the griot stayed with her waiting to see if she would give birth to a boy.

When she gave birth to a boy, the ruler wanted to kill him but he was advised to spare the boy until he grew older.

As he got older, his uncle Bubu Musa conspired with Samba’s peers to kill him.  They went on a hunt and he was shot but he survived and and returned home.

Samba became suspicious of the ploy to eliminate him the second time and he escaped again. Several plans were laid to kill him but he escaped them. In fact, there were times that his uncle thought he was finished but he reappeared mysteriously.

References to entities made in the recording

Culture:  Fula

Language:  Fula

Persons:  Sewi, Samba Gilajegi, Bubu Musa, Kumba Jorngal

Relationships: 

Bubu Musa was the ruler and Samba Gilajegi’s uncle

Samba Gilajegi’s mother was Kumba Jorngal

Sewi was Samba Gilajegi’s griot

Places: Tarass, Jeengi, Fouta Jallon

Movements:  None