We are pleased to present one of the most famous tales of African literature, written by Amadou Koumba and collected by the eminent Senegalese writer Birago Diop. This tale, often performed on theatrical stages around the world, continues to captivate spectators of all ages. The fame of Amadou Koumba’s story extends well beyond the borders of Africa, thus illustrating the universality of the themes addressed in this narrative. Indeed, the tales of Birago Diop are recognized for their cultural richness and their ability to transmit universal values through generations. Amadou Koumba’s work embodies the vibrancy and depth of African oral tradition, offering readers around the world a fascinating window on the culture and beliefs of sub-Saharan Africa.
Once upon a time, there was a man called Mor Lame. He had a colleague, “more than brother,” Moussa whom he loved very much. One day, Mor Lame was cooking a beaten beef bone when “more than brother” visited him. According to tradition, he had to share the menu with his host. However, he only liked to take bones, especially the thigh bone. So, he did not want to accept his host until the time when the bone will be softened. For that, he made himself dead, stiffened on his bed and asked his wife to announce his death to the population. The woman obeyed him. While the people gathered, his wife went to see him and said :
– Mor Lame get up, they are ready to bury you.
– Where is the bone? muttered the fake death.
– In the fire pot, replied his wife.
– Did it soften?
– Yes, he has gone soft.
– And Moussa?
– He is there. ? The population was present and those in charge of washing the dead were invited to start their work. The woman returned to her husband and replied “Get up Mor”
– “Where’s the bone?” he asked.
– “In the pot over the fire”.
– “And Moussa? – He’s still there.”
– They want to wash you.
– Yes, that they wash me. We washed him and he stayed on the mat in the white shroud. Then, we put him in the coffin and finally buried him. His wife approached the chief gravedigger and asked him to allow her to say a last prayer to her husband so that he would be accepted into the kingdom of God. The chief gravedigger accepted her proposal. She went to see her man in tears and said:
– “Mor, get up! They want to put you in the coffin and bury you; get up”
– “where is the bone?”
– “In the pot with fire”
– “Did it soften ?”
– ‘Yes, he is soft’
– “And Moussa ?
– He’s still there
– Let them put me in the white shroud, put me in the coffin, and finally bury me.” The woman turned into a tear. The chief gravedigger put it in the white sheet then in the coffin. We intoned funeral songs and the procession started for the cemetery. We have already arrived there. The coffin has exceeded the length of the pit and the chief gravedigger ordered that the first handfuls of sand be thrown on it. As soon as the population began – to obey this order, the woman asked for her same permission to pray from the chief gravedigger who agreed. She went into the hole, bent down and said to her husband with eyes full of blades.
– “Mor get up”
– “Where is the bone?” he asked through the shroud and the coffin.
– “In the fire pot.”
– “Did it soften?”
– ‘Yes, he has softened up’.
– “And Moussa?
– He is still there. They are already throwing the first handfuls of sand on the coffin.
– “They’re going to bury you alive”
– “Let them bury me” The woman went out and they filled the sand pit.
All returned to the house. The head of Mor Larme’s family called Moussa and said to him: “You were for a long time Mor Larme’s confrere; his ‘more than brother’. Reason why at the end of his wife’s widowhood, you will take her as your wife. She will not start living in other hands than yours. I give it back to you. Keep it well. “So then, Moussa inherited the wife from his friend who died due to damage, now, he says to the woman:
– “Where’s the bone?”
– “In the pot, over the fire”
– “Did it soften?”
– “Yes, he has gone soft.”
– «Bring him so that we can eat him». The woman brought him to Moussa and together they ate him. Mor Lame let himself be buried alive for not wanting to share a simple bone with his colleague Moussa. At his death, Moussa took his wife and together they ate the menu. Obviously avarice loses while wanting to win everything. Mor Lame in wanting to win the bone, lost and the bone, and his wife and life. Let us therefore guard against avarice and we will live happily.