17th century African kingdoms
17th century African society
A01=Harold Courlander
A01=Ousmane Sako
African dynastic succession
African empire architecture and settlements
African empire trade and diplomacy
African folklore and mythology
African historical anthropology
African historical ethnography
African kingdom annals
African legends and heroism
African military and political history
African oral history preservation
African oral traditions
African riverine civilizations
African state formation
African tribal confederations
African urban centers history
Author_Harold Courlander
Author_Ousmane Sako
Bambara kings and rulers
Bambara sociopolitical organization
Bambara tribal history
Bambara warrior culture
Category=FN
Category=FYB
Category=JBGB
cultural identity in African kingdoms
epic storytelling in African culture
eq_anthologies-novellas-short-stories
eq_bestseller
eq_fiction
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
heroism in African legend
historical African chronicles
historical African cultural studies
historical African social structures
historical legends of Africa
historical narratives of African rulers
indigenous African chronicles
indigenous African governance
indigenous African historical sources
Niger River civilizations
Niger River trade networks
precolonial African city-states
precolonial African economic systems
precolonial African societies
regional African dynasties
Sahel region political history
Sahelian emp
Segu empire chronicles
trade and governance in African empires
traditional African leadership
West African cultural heritage
West African epic traditions
West African historiography
West African history studies
West African precolonial studies
West African urban development
Product details
- ISBN 9780870239298
- Weight: 328g
- Dimensions: 153 x 228mm
- Publication Date: 16 Nov 1994
- Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
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The heroic legends decribed here, re-create the events and annals of the kingdom of Segu and of the Bambara tribe that formed a series of important city-states along the Niger River during the 17th century. The deeds of kings, the exploits of warriors, the sorcery of magicians, and battles against invaders are among the subjects addressed. The stories, transmitted orally, were narrated by the ""djeli"", traditional keepers of the history of ruling families of the kingdoms that once flourished in the Western Sudan. They speak of valour, honour, intrigues and rivalries between powerful chiefs; they also include some reactions to the colonial encounters. Courlander is an authority on African epic and folklore, and he provides a readable introduction to the history of the Segi empire. Students and the general public should find this collection informative, interesting and easy to read.
