Albert Yanka - Boy Lost at Sea

Authors

George Tucker Childs, Portland State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Interview

Publication Date

3-2-2017

Subjects

Sherbro (African people) -- Social life and customs, Sherbro language

Disciplines

African Languages and Societies | Applied Linguistics

Abstract

Albert Yanka telling "Boy lost at Sea" story.

The nephew (a young boy) has left his interior village to join his fisherman uncle. He is so enthusiastic about fishing that he has set up his own independent fishing enterprise. While checking the lines, however, a storm arises and he gets swept away to sea and is bereft for three days. During that time a bundle of bread arrives and saves him from starvation, a “miracle”, according to Ba Yanka. He is finally found by his uncle’s search party and brought back to shore. Everyone rejoices and he is showered with presents.

Characterized by some stilted language (‘the month the white people call July’) but an interesting disquisition on the history of Plantain Island. It was formerly known as Egusi Island, but now taking the name of a rich slave trader who long ago departed without a trace. Egusi is a cucumber-like fruit whose seeds are highly valued as an ingredient for a sauce put on rice. From Nigeria originally? Lots of Yorubas were repatriated here. The name for the island before the slaver John Plantain was Yel Saŋha (many different spellings) ‘Egusi Island’. It is not named after the fruit. Provides evidence of the island sinking, a subvention zone? The island has no fresh water of its own and no latrines; everyone uses the beach.

Location

Africa, Sierra Leone, Kagboro Chiefdom, Shenge

Participants

Albert Yanka (consultant)

Languages

Sherbro, English

ISO 639

bun, eng

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/28193

Citation Details

Childs, George Tucker, "Albert Yanka - Boy Lost at Sea" (2017). The Sherbro Language and Culture of Sierra Leone. 52.
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/28193