SYMBOLISM IN ZARMA EPIC POETRY

Abstract

The epic discourse is shrouded with myth, just as it becomes a favorite ground for the griots who indulge in using rhetorical skills of all kinds in its declamation; starting from metaphor up to repetition, via symbolism to name but few. This study aims at analyzing the stylistic device of symbolism and it uses in Zarma, the second largest ethnic group in terms of number of populations after the Hausa from Niger, epic (moolo in Zarma) narratives. In fact, in the Zarma culture the griots (gesere) considered as ‘speech masters’ celebrate the emblematic heroes of the milieu amazingly and amusingly using figures of style. The study is based on the epic poems of an old and famous griot of this community, Kulba Baaba Seebeeri. As theoretical framework, the paper adopts ‘the stylistics’ before concluding that Kulba Baaba is mainly inspired by some animate and inanimate sources symbolized respectively by animals and things around the heroes in his performance.