Nyama and Heka: African Concepts of the Word

• DOI: 10.1353/cls.2006.0045
• Publication Date: 2007-01-05T01:08:56Z
• Authors: Christopher Wise
• Keywords: Soul

"Speech is not in people's hands. People are the hands of speech." —a Mande proverb Introduction Knowledge West African griot epic has advanced enormously last fifteen years with publication volumes by Thomas Hale, Scribe, Griot, Novelist: Narrative Interpreters Songhay Empire1 and Griots Griottes: Masters Words Music;2 Stephen Belcher, Epic Traditions Africa;3 Barbara G. Hoffman, At War: Conflict, Conciliation, Caste Mande.4 Despite richness these studies, concept nyama, word for occult "power" or "means," remained a secondary concern cultural criticism. Fascination figure tended to overshadow problem or, some cases, generic considerations have taken precedence over matters occult. In first instance, critic risks subordinating nyama Western idealism, Platonic logic, second, an old-fashioned essentialism, Aristotelian logic. However, extent which may be construed as force generative both complexes remains unarticulated. By assuming that flows from abysmal no-place blood-filled receptacle, simulacrum human soul, many hitherto unresolved enigmas about resolved. While it true must "learn [End Page 19] secret power [or nyama]," quote John William Johnson, Sundiata Keita Epic,5 knowledge nyama—so does destroy those who wield it—does necessarily imply Cartesian mastery. I do refer logocentric but psychē upon logos depends, blowing wind before becomes mind. There can no question any new master term anchor Instead, replaced number substitutions. If rethought properly Afrocentric complex, most obvious candidate would Egyptian heka , one might also insert Biblical ruah. its place (assuming hypotheses Sigmund Freud others great lawgiver hailed Egypt),6 or—as Johnson proposes—the Afro-Islamic "equivalent" barakah synonymous nyama.7 plenty terms show dispensability including Greek Socratic invention soul. focus this essay on more generally world Bamana,8 Soninke, Khassonke, Maninka, other groups, argument being made here applies larger up peoples region. For equivalent Sahelian include Soninke ñaxamala, Wolof ñeeño, Fulfulde nyeenyo, Toucouleur-Fulfulde nyaama. It difficult if impossible discuss without metaphysics, fact complicates—without vitiating—the "thesis" my essay. After studying culture Northern Niger, Paul Stoller makes important discoveries conceptions word, he ends rejecting what calls "extreme" conclusions his own research. opts "reconstruction ethnography" based "imperfect debris" phenomenology.9 at War, Hoffman observes "there standard grammar pronunciation [in society] underlies all Chomskyan-style deep-structure, monolithic 'competence' analyst make appeal."10 nonetheless conventional ethnographic study griot's role society pursuing implications her findings. subordinates humanist ethnography. The useful revealing the...