The 6th day of Kwanzaa - KUUMBA (a story by Eshu Bumpus)

"Anansi Writes a Song" by Eshu Bumpus (http://eshu.folktales.net/)

A lion named Simba was ruler of a small kingdom called Korro. A traveling griot* came to his village to give a performance. He played the Kora and sang stories about great men and women and the deeds they'd done. He sang about things going on all across the wide world. The king and everyone around enjoyed the music very much.

When he was finished, the bard asked king Simba for a small token in exchange for his performance.

Simba went into a rage! "You dare ask me for a gift!? You should be honored to have me listen! You should give me a gift!"

Simba was so angry that he ordered his servants to give the griot fifty lashes.

The griot returned home and told his friends what happened to him at King Simba's court. They were shocked and angry to hear of the meanness of the king.

Anansi was among the friends of this griot and he decided to write a song to let everyone know how they felt about Simba.

It went like this.

Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He is fat and very flabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He's a fool whose mane is shabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
his face is ugly, his teeth are few. Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
'
He wrote the song with a very catchy tune and people all over the countryside began to sing it. Women sang it while they were cleaning clothes at the river. Children sang it during their games. Men sang it while digging yams. It was heard at dances and festivals. Soon it was known all over Africa.

When the king heard the song, he sent for the griot he had mistreated and asked him, "Who has written this song about me?"

"It was Anansi who wrote the song, but everyone sings it," responded the griot.

"I will give you much money if you tell him to stop the song." Simba promised.

But the griot refused saying, " A thing once it is done cannot be undone. You did not have to have me beaten, but you did. And now you cannot undo it. Anansi did not have to write the song, but he did. Now the song is alive among the people. It cannot be taken back."

Anansi's song about Simba is still sung to this day.

Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He is fat and very flabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
He's a fool whose mane is shabby.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro,
his face is ugly, his teeth are few.
Simba the Lion, king of Korro.

*Griot (Pronounced Gree-Oh) is a name for the traditional Storyteller and Historian in parts of West Africa.

KUUMBA — Creativity