“The Wood Ibises” : a Fulɓe Mbooku Poem

NIztional Mtzseum of' EthnokrgryThe present paper aims at presenting a poem, "The Wood Ibises", composed and sung by one of the most well-knowri mbooku singers in Diamare Prefecture of North Cameroon.The performance of this poem is a good example of how Fu16e humour is produced.The annotated text and translation fbllow the general introduction.Another version by a younger singer is added fbr the purpos.e of comparison.' 126 'P.K. EGucHI .The fo11owing recordings of the three versions of the poem were used for the present study : 1) "Wood Ibises" (IU 1), 170 lineS, Pprformed b.y Aakal, i'n front of my friends (commoners) at Mr. Kaaw Madam's compound in Dugoy District, Maroua, on October lO, 1976.-2) "Wood Ibises" (Kl 2), 204 lines,3) performed by Aakal, in front of Chief, Hammadu, hjs son Daayru, and hjs subjects, and recorded by Eldridge Mohammadou in Bogo around 1966.i 3) Kl 2 has forty four lines more than KZ 1.This difference is due to the fact that KZ 1 contains greetings and eulogies of the chief and his son.These are as fo11ows:'* The meaning is not certain.