The tale of the boy who tricked a tyrant - Paschal Kyiiripuo Kyoore
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Shock seized the West African Dagara village as word travelled of a new decree. Completely disregarding time-honored naming rituals, the tyrannical chief declared that he alone would name the village’s children. But soon an unlikely challenger appeared: Yagangnaa, the boy who named himself. Paschal Kyiiripuo Kyoore shares the tale of the defiant boy and his battle of wits with the chief.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
One important way to learn more about the Dagara people is through their music and dance. Xylophone and drum music plays a role in most social gatherings. For a taste of the tradition, listen to the following compilation of Degara Bewaa music and watch musicians Bernard Woma and Jerome Balsab perform at the Kukur Bagr festival. There have been a number of studies on Dagara verbal art focusing on xylophonists, drummers, praise singers, folktales, riddles, and proverbs. These studies also discuss rituals and hoe-farming.
The following references will help you put the Yangangnaa tale into a wider cultural context in a manner that invites some more reflections on the culture beyond the tale itself:
-Dagara Verbal Art: An African Tradition, by Paschal Kyoore
-Folk Tales of the Dagara: Ghana and Burkina Faso, by Paschal Kyoore
-Hoe-Farming and Social Relations among the Dagara of Northwestern Ghana and Southwestern Burkina Faso, by Alexis B. Tengan
-“Constructing Dagara Gyil Pedagogy: The Legacy of Bernard Woma,” by Michael Biagio Vercelli
-African Studies Association of Africa
-African Studies Association
The following references will help you put the Yangangnaa tale into a wider cultural context in a manner that invites some more reflections on the culture beyond the tale itself:
-Dagara Verbal Art: An African Tradition, by Paschal Kyoore
-Folk Tales of the Dagara: Ghana and Burkina Faso, by Paschal Kyoore
-Hoe-Farming and Social Relations among the Dagara of Northwestern Ghana and Southwestern Burkina Faso, by Alexis B. Tengan
-“Constructing Dagara Gyil Pedagogy: The Legacy of Bernard Woma,” by Michael Biagio Vercelli
-African Studies Association of Africa
-African Studies Association
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Paschal Kyiiripuo Kyoore
- Director Lesego Vorster
- Narrator Christina Greer
- Storyboard Artist Adrean Sigogo
- Animator Joshua Penniken, Lesego Vorster
- Composer Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
- Sound Designer Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Producer Cella Wright
- Script Editor Nidhi Upadhyaya
