Founding Mothers

In last week’s episode, we got to know some women from African folklore who are credited with founding their clan or peoples. The phenomenon is well-documented across the continent which is hardly surprising: traditional African societies were a mixed bag when it comes to gender and leadership. As stated by Ifi Amadiume, a Nigerian anthropologist, historical African societies embodied two oppositional or contesting systems, the balance tilting and changing all the time, with a gender language system in which men and women could cross gender boundaries and share roles and status.

This aspect of sharing roles and status shows up the myths about women who, alongside men, are credited with founding groups and clans. There are many of such stories from all corners of the continent and this complementarity is a cornerstone of traditional African gender relations.

In this week’s episode, we will get to know a couple of these legends including:

1. The story of Meme (person with a big body) and Gborogboro (person coming from the sky) from the Lugbara of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

2. The story of Kibumba-Bumba (she who makes much pottery) and Kiubaka-Ubaka (he who builds many houses) from the Luba of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

3. The story of Moombi/Mumbi (one who moulds/creates/builds) and Gĩkũyũ of the Gĩkũyũ from Kenya.

“Did Adroa not put Gborogboro and Meme in the world?” — Lugbara saying (Art by Helen Nde)

References

Re-Inventing Africa: Matriarchy, Religion and Culture by Ifi Amadiume

Some Social Aspects of Lugbara Myth by John Middleton

Parables and Fables: exegesis, textuality, and politics in Central Africa by Vumbi Yoka Mudimbé. pp 86-7

Facing Mount Kenya : the tribal life of Gikuyu by Jomo Kenyatta. pp 5-10

Meanwhile…

Have you heard? “The Watkins Book of African Folklore” or the “Mythological Africans Book”, is now available for preorder! Click image for preordering options!

Not ready to preorder? Tell someone about the MA Book!