Epic of Bamana Segu

Epic of Bamana Segu (or Epic of Bambara Segu) is one of the longest epics recorded in Africa.[1] The epic was composed by Bambara people in the 19th century. The epic reflects on political and military events which occurred during the reign of three rulers of the second dynasty of Segu Bambara State: Ngolo Diarra, his son Monzon Diarra and grandson Da Monzon Diarra.[2]

The epic became a part of Bambara oral tradition and was continuously performed by Malian griots. Among prominent performers of the epic was Banzumana Sissoko.[3] The epic was first recorded in the 20th century, first published in French in 1972, and subsequently in English in 1990.[4]

References
  1. John William Johnson; Thomas Albert Hale; Stephen Paterson Belcher (1 January 1997). Oral Epics from Africa: Vibrant Voices from a Vast Continent. Indiana University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-253-21110-1. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  2. Lilyan, Kesteloot; Bassirou, Dieng (1997). Les épopées d'Afrique noire (in French). Paris: Karthala/UNESCO. ISBN 2-86537-677-X.
  3. Bertha, Rokya (2 February 2013). "Bazoumana Sissoko: "The Old Lion" is still alive" (in French). Maliweb.net. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  4. La Meslée, Valérie Marin (2012). "L'épopée de Ségou: le royaume bambara conquérant". L'Âme de l'Afrique. Le Point références (in French). Paris (42 (November–December)): 48.
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