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| alcheringa:1-1:praises_of_the_bantu_kings_26 [2021/10/29 19:45] – [Context] Grammar kaitsass | alcheringa:1-1:praises_of_the_bantu_kings_26 [2022/03/22 21:17] (current) – [Commentary] kaitsass |
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| {{ :alcheringa:1-1:praises-of-the-bantu-pages_from_alcheringa_1-1_fall-1970-3.pdf |}} | {{ :alcheringa:1-1:praises-of-the-bantu-pages_from_alcheringa_1-1_fall-1970-3.pdf |}} |
| ==== Overview ==== | ==== Overview ==== |
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| These poems showcase self-praise poetry performed during inauguration ceremonies, special occasions, and even during times of war and hardship during the reins of various Bantu Kings. Each numbered praise song included and described below is linked to a distinct ceremony or historical event. | These poems showcase self-praise poetry performed during inauguration ceremonies, special occasions, and even during times of war and hardship during the reins of various Bantu Kings. Each numbered praise song included and described below is linked to a distinct ceremony or historical event. |
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| The verses were transcribed by Jerome Rothenberg in Alcheringa volume one, number one, on pgs. 26 to 28 from a book previously published, translated and annotated by Jacques Chileya Chiwale. It is important to note that the translations completed by Rothenberg contained within Alcheringa are lose translations of the original text. The Alcheringa entry produced by Rothenberg is separated into two sections. The first section, titled "Praises of the Bantu Kings" (1-10), are discussed below, while the second section, titled "Further Praises" (1-5), are not included here. | The verses were transcribed by Jerome Rothenberg in //Alcheringa//, volume one, number one, from a book previously published, translated, and annotated by Jacques Chileya Chiwale. It is important to note that the translations completed by Rothenberg contained within //Alcheringa// are loose translations of the original texts. The //Alcheringa// entry produced by Rothenberg is separated into two sections. The first section, titled "Praises of the Bantu Kings" (1-10), are discussed below, while the second section, titled "Further Praises" (1-5), are not included here. |
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| ==== Commentary ==== | ==== Commentary ==== |
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| This section of praise poetry was recorded and translated by Jaques Chileya Chiwale into a published book titled [[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/557edb36e4b0c3993dee95d1/t/57a4f8ff2e69cffb1a26c984/1470429463375/Royal%2BPraises%2Band%2BPraise%2BNames-Lunda.compressed.pdf|"Royal Praises and Praise Names of the Lunda Kazembe of Northern Rhodesia."]] This text includes the English translation and the original language(s) in which the verses were customarily recited (often the Luba language of the Congo Republic &/or Lubanised Bemba). All of the transcription, contextualization, and translations of the praise poems recorded below were taken from the original transcription and translations done by Chiwale within his published work, "Royal Praises and Praise Names of the Lunda Kazembe of Northern Rhodesia." | This section of praise poetry was recorded and translated by Jaques Chileya Chiwale into a published book titled //[[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/557edb36e4b0c3993dee95d1/t/57a4f8ff2e69cffb1a26c984/1470429463375/Royal%2BPraises%2Band%2BPraise%2BNames-Lunda.compressed.pdf|Royal Praises and Praise Names of the Lunda Kazembe of Northern Rhodesia.]]// This text includes the English translation and the original language(s) in which the verses were customarily recited (often the Luba language of the Congo Republic or Lubanised Bemba). All of the transcription, contextualization, and translations of the praise poems recorded below were taken from the original transcription and translations done by Chiwale within his published work mentioned above. |
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| === 1 === | === 1 === |
| === 5 === | === 5 === |
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| This praise song is in direct response to the fourth song, which is listed above. After Nkuba and his brother were murdered, Nacituti gifted Mwata Ilunga the land and rivers of Shilal and begged the ruler to stay in the area to also rule over their land, so she and her family would not be slaughtered as her son had been. Mwata Ilunga then sang his own praise song, something that was customary for rulers to recite under special circumstances such as these. | This praise song is in direct response to the fourth song, which is listed above. After Nkuba and his brother were murdered, Nacituti gifted Mwata Ilunga the land and rivers of Shilal and begged the ruler to stay in the area to also rule over their land so that she and her family would not be slaughtered as her son had been. Mwata Ilunga then sang his own praise song, something that was customary for rulers to recite under special circumstances such as these. |
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| **Luba**: | **Luba**: |
| ==== Context ==== | ==== Context ==== |
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| Bantu praise poetry originates from countries ranging from Central Africa to South Africa and comes from regions where people speak the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu_languages|Bantu languages]], of which there are hundreds. Some of the more well-known Bantu languages are Swahili, Zulu, and Shona. | Bantu praise poetry originates from countries ranging from Central Africa to South Africa and comes from regions where people speak the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu_languages|Bantu languages]], of which there are hundreds. Some of the more well-known of these languages are Swahili, Zulu, and Shona. |
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| Although the act of praising has a positive connotation, the focus of a praise poem may range from true praise to criticism and serve to strengthen //or// diminish its subject's reputation or status. These poems are traditionally sung by their original author and have significant political and social weight to them, as they can serve as a sort of review of a person's successes and shortcomings. These praise poems not only highlight individuals but in certain regions can also focus on praises of an entire clan, like the [[https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-the-school-of-oriental-and-african-studies/article/abs/southern-bantu-clanpraises-a-neglected-genre/6FCAD5208E52DF94CC22AE6F30206BE9|clan-praises]] originating from the [[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shona|Shona people]] of Eastern Zimbabwe. | Although the act of praising has a positive connotation, the focus of a praise poem may range from true praise to criticism and serve to strengthen //or// diminish its subject's reputation or status. These poems are traditionally sung by their original authors and have significant political and social weight to them, as they can serve as a sort of review of a person's successes and shortcomings. These praise poems not only highlight individuals but in certain regions can also focus on praises of an entire clan, like the [[https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-the-school-of-oriental-and-african-studies/article/abs/southern-bantu-clanpraises-a-neglected-genre/6FCAD5208E52DF94CC22AE6F30206BE9|clan-praises]] originating from the [[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shona|Shona people]] of Eastern Zimbabwe. |
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| ==== Bibliography ==== | ==== Bibliography ==== |
