Nthano (chantefables) and songs performed by the Bangwe player Chitenje Tambala (Malaŵi)

Abstract

A number of recordings were made of stories (nthano) as related by Chitenje Tambala. These stories are told as songs accompanied by a board zither. From the recorded material three items were selected, two in Chicheŵa and one in Chiyao, and fully transcribed. Their content has been discussed in detail with explanatory notes and finally a comparative analysis and interpretation of the chantefables has been given. These stories provide demonstration examples for the use of verbal ambiguity as an important literary device in trickster stories.

Hierdie bydrae sentreer om 'n versameling vertellings in Chicheŵa en Chiyao soos voorgedra deur Chitenje Tambala. Die vertellings (nthano) is tydens veldwerksessies op band vasgelê, en word tradisioneel geresiteer as liedere wat met 'n siteragtige instrument begelei word. Drie sodanige voordragte is geselekteer om as voorbeeldmateriaal te dien: twee uit Chicheŵa en een uit Chiyao. Volledige transkripsies van laasgenoemde drie tekste word aangegee en geïnterpreteer. Die interpretasie word aan die hand van verklärende notas toegelig, en insgelyks word 'n vergelyking tussen die onderskeie vertellings getref. Hieruit blyk dit dat dubbelsinnigheid en woordspeling 'n sleutelrol in die verteltegniek speel wanneer dergelike resitasies voorgedra word.