African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

ituals of birth, of naming, of circumcision or excision, of marriage, and of funerals.
Among the Sanan of Burkina Faso, this song might be heard at funerals:
If I don’t accompany you, mother,
you won’t arrive under the tree of death.
If I, Kuma, speaker of words, don’t accompany you,
mother,
you’ll never arrive under the tree of death.
(Nieba and Platiel, 1980)
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On the whole, a majority of a society’s repertory of ceremonial songs are those composed
for these various ceremonies. In addition, there are songs accompanying the various
stages of the initiation ceremonies of different initiatory societies, such as the songs of
the Komo and of the Kore of Bamana initiatory societies. One also finds a repertory of
religious songs, such as those in Islam that celebrate the completion of Quranic school or
the return from the obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ceremonies tied to certain aspects of social life are marked by song as well. An
important event in any community is the crowning of a chief or the arrival of a visiting
government official. The following song is heard at the enthronement of a Bambana
chief:
Here’s the trunk,
Here’s the great trunk,
Here’s the white trunk,
A chief is enthroned…
Guardian spirits of the town respect him!
Dwarfs of the town fear him!
Bad sicknesses are appeased by his reign!
(Bungener and Dieterlon)
Frequently, at such occasions, praise songs are performed. These are especially valued in
the cultures of southern Africa (e.g., Xhosa and Zulu). Certain types of songs peculiar to
specific activities may also fall into this category of ceremonial songs. Hunting songs, for
example, can be produced for a specific hunting-related activity—a song may accompany
the admission of one of the members of a society of hunters to a superior grade of that
society. Similarly, some agricultural songs may be performed during the sowing or
harvest seasons. As noted earlier, even these songs are accompanied by music and dance.
The themes of ceremonial songs are obviously closely connected to cultural functions.
Songs that are sung at feasts related to celestial events or at religious ceremonies are