Djesseré

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A Djesseré (also: Djassaré , Jasare , Jasaré , Jeseré ) is any professional narrator in the Songhai - Zarma -Gesellschaft in Niger .

activity

A Djesseré recites long epics on the history of the population, their lineages and heroes. Maintaining the cultural tradition of his art is at least as important to him as imparting knowledge. Even if his topics have a historical background, he tries to put them in the context of his present, for example by explaining geographical distances using the distances to modern locations.

The lecture is usually accompanied by music on the lute instrument Molo . The narrator has reduced facial expressions and he does not sing, which differs fundamentally from the West African narrative tradition embodied by the griots . A griot, usually called Gawlo in Niger , has a low social status and is often associated with intrusive behavior and not always high artistry. A Djesseré, on the other hand, sees himself as a member of an exclusive and high-class social group.

Historical development

The tradition of the Djesseré can be traced back to the Songhaire Empire, which perished in 1591 . The old masters are called Djesserédounka . The storytellers were deeply involved in the political fabric, as they were not only keepers of tradition but also advisers to rulers.

There was a distinction early on between Djesseré, who have a Songhai-Zarma background, and those with a Fulbe background, even if the latter no longer use their own Fulfulde language in their work in Niger , but have switched to the Songhai-Zarma language are. The storytellers with a Songhai Zarma background (and especially their respective house) are called Timeï , those with a Fulbe background are called Mâbo . A particularly high density of Timeï developed in the villages of Dartchandé , Koulikoira and Saya .

Koulba Baba , Djéliba Badjé , Badjé Bannya , Nouhou Malio , Djado Sékou and Tinguizi are considered the master Djesseré of the 20th century . Most of these artists have sound recordings made by Radio Niger and the Nigerien Research Institute for Human Sciences (IRSH).

education

The multi-year training to become a Djesseré includes learning and passing on historical knowledge and speaking training. Playing the accompanying instrument Molo is also practiced. The students are usually the sons of Djesseré.

The training is institutionally anchored in its own schools, with a distinction being made between Songhai schools and Zarma schools. There are Djesseré schools of the Songhai among others in Dartchandé, Karma and Namaro . The most important training center in the Zarma area is in Liboré , with others in N'Dounga and Saga .

literature

  • Sandra Bornand: Le discours du griot généalogiste chez les Zarma du Niger . Karthala, Paris 2005, ISBN 2-84586-625-9 .
  • Hamadou Seini: Zarma-Songhoï Verbal Artistry and Expression: From the Epic to the Francophone Novel, with a Focus on Intertextual Dialogue Across the Genres . Dissertation. University of Colorado, Boulder 2013 ( scholar.colorado.edu [PDF]).
  • Ousmane Mahamane Tandina: L'épopée . In: Marie-Clotilde Jacquey (ed.): Littérature nigérienne (=  Notre librairie . No. 107 ). CLEF, Paris 1991, p. 58-62 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Ousmane Mahamane Tandina: L'épopée . In: Marie-Clotilde Jacquey (ed.): Littérature nigérienne (=  Notre librairie . No. 107 ). CLEF, Paris 1991, p. 59 .
  2. ↑ a b Hamadou Seini: Zarma-Songhoï Verbal Artistry and Expression: From the Epic to the Francophone Novel, with a Focus on Intertextual Dialogue Across the Genres . Dissertation. University of Colorado, Boulder 2013, pp. 33–34 ( scholar.colorado.edu [PDF; accessed April 2, 2020]).
  3. ↑ a b c d e Hamadou Seini: Zarma-Songhoï Verbal Artistry and Expression: From the Epic to the Francophone Novel, with a Focus on Intertextual Dialogue Across the Genres . Dissertation. University of Colorado, Boulder 2013, pp. 30–32 ( scholar.colorado.edu [PDF; accessed April 2, 2020]).
  4. ^ Sandra Bornand: Le discours du griot généalogiste chez les Zarma du Niger . Karthala, Paris 2005, ISBN 2-84586-625-9 , pp. 224 .