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65 12 Samba Gueladio Diegui 43 Fuuta Jalon (Peuhl) (Guinea)44 This is the story of Samba Gueladio Diegui, Peuhl prince of Fouta. Samba Gueladio Diegui was the son of Gueladio, king of Fouta. When Samba arrived at the age of adolescence, his father died. The brother of the dead king, Konkobo Moussa, took command of the country. Konkobo had eight sons. When they grew to manhood, he announced that he would divide Fouta among them, and each received his portion. Samba remained with his mother, his griot,45 named Sevi Malallaya, and a slave called Doungourou. The griot, Sevi, came to Samba. He was weeping. Samba asked him, “Why do you weep?” “I weep,” replied the griot, “because your father, Konkobo, has divided Fouta between his boys. And, as your father was no longer there, Konkobo has not kept a share for you.” Samba rose at once. He went to his uncle and said to him, “Well, papa, and where is my share?” “I am going to give something to you, too,” Konkobo replied. “The first horse that you come across in the Fouta, take it. It is yours.” Samba returned. He went to his griot and said to him, “My papa has given me a share, too!” “And what has he given you?” “He has given me permission to take the first good horse that I find.” The griot said, “But that is nothing at all that he gives you! He has acted very badly toward you.” Samba went back to his uncle, Konkobo.“Papa,” he said to him,“I don’t want your present. It is not what I need. Give me what is due to me. I ask nothing else.” His uncle replied, “I saw a superb bull in Fouta. I saw a very pretty woman, too. Take them both. I make you a present of them.” Samba went again to Sevi, the griot. “Well,” he said, “my papa has given me a beautiful Fouta woman and an ox. All that I can have if I choose to take it.” “That is worth nothing,” said the griot. “It is like what he gave you before. If you find a beautiful woman who is married and you take her, her husband will kill you. You are a child, and you don’t understand.” Samba went back once again. “Well, papa,” he said, “I don’t want what you offer me. What I want is my share of Fouta.” “If you really want it,” said Konkobo, “you had better set about taking it. If not, so much the worse for you.” Samba went away. He saddled his mare, Oumoullatoma. He set out with his griot, Sevi Malallaya, and his slave, Doungourou, his mother, and the slaves destined for his wife. At that time, he was not yet married. He said, “I am going to leave Fouta.” He went as far as a village called Tiabo. It was close to Bakel. He called the king of that country and said to him, “Tounka, I entrust to you my mother and the mother of my griot. You must provide for their needs and for those of my people until I return. Give them food and clothing. Lodge them well. Or else, when I return, if I find that they have lacked food or clothing, I will cut your head off.” After this, Samba and his griot crossed the river without further delay. They set out for a country the king of which was named Ellel Bildikri, to ask for warriors to help them in attacking Konkobo Moussa, Samba’s uncle. They marched for forty-five days through the forest before reaching the Peuhl country. I have forgotten the name of the king of this country. As soon as he saw Samba, he said, “Here is a fine boy! He must be the son of a king.” He had oxen killed and sheep killed and presented them to Samba, saying, “All this is for you.” He called his daughters and told them, “Go and visit Samba, who is leaving tomorrow. Talk to him and amuse him.” The young Peuhl girls stayed with Samba. They amused themselves together. Presently, they left him. “It is too hot,” they said. “We are going to bathe.” When they had gone, Samba lay down on his bed to sleep. One of the young girls had taken off her gold necklace and had forgotten it on leaving. While Samba was sleeping, an ostrich came into the...

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