The origins of Kushi in oral narratives
Keywords:
Kushi, oral history, Bole-Tangale, language documentationAbstract
The Kushi are a relatively small Chadic-speaking group settled in north-eastern Nigeria. Reconstructing the migratory movements that brought the Kushi to their present area is a daunting task. Oral history is one of the most valuable tools we can turn to in order to understand the origins of Kushi as well as the several ethnic and linguistic components that contributed to the merging of the present-day community. A critical reading of the historical events as narrated by a Kushi speaker will show that Kushi is the result of a series of migrations undertaken by different groups over a certain period of time, thus contrasting with the default narrative of an indivisible and linear migration coming from east. Apart from its historical significance, the text – supplied with interlinear analysis – is intended to contribute to the documentation and description of the Kushi language.
References
Adelberger, J., Brunk, K., and Kleinewillinghöfer, U., 1993, “Natural environment and settlement in Chonge distict, eastern Muri mountains, northeastern Nigeria. An interdisciplinary case study”, [in:] Günter, Nagel (ed.), Berichte des Sonderfor-schungsbereichs 268, vol. 2, Frankfurt/Main: Goethe Universi-ty, pp. 13-42.
Dinslage, S. and Leger, R. 1996, “Language and migration. The im-pact of the Jukun on Chadic speaking groups in the Benue-Gongola basin”, Berichte des Sonderforschungsbereichs 268, vol. 8, Frankfurt/Main: Goethe University, pp. 67-75.
Leger, R., 1993, “A Kushi war song”, Annals of Borno, 8/9, pp. 234-238.
Newman, P., 1990, Nominal and verbal plurality in Chadic, Dordrecht: Foris Publications.
Simons, G. F. and Fennig, C.D. (eds.), 2017, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Twentieth edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
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