Dagbani folktales are fictional stories originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation. It is usually intended to teach a lesson or entertain. It can be about people, animals, trees, myths, spirits, trees, rivers, mountains, etc

This lesson seeks to provide free learning resources for both teachers and learners in Primary 4. The lesson discusses the features of Dagbani folktales. By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

• – tell a story in Dagbani exhibiting the various features of Dagbani folktales;
• – discuss the moral lessons in the story.

Examples of Dagbani Folktales include;

• – Kpatindariga Mini Yɛm Chuɣu
• – Tipawumli Sanyoo
• – Kunduŋ Lɛbi Piɛɣu
• – Naɣ’ lantabili Mini Buŋa
• – Kunduŋ Mini Bubil’ Kpibiga
• – Zɔm Mini O Zo Gbarigu
• – Laɣ’ Yubo Pam Tiligiri Nyɛvili
• – Bɔntimaŋ Mini O Bia Suhuyini

Features of Dagbani Folktales:

• – Piligu => Beginning
• – Sunsuuni => Middle
• – Bahigu => End

A sample Dagbani folktale by Adam S. Yidana entitled “Kunduŋ Lɛbi Piɛɣu”.

Di daa yaa niŋla lala ka niŋ lala, ka Kunduŋ daa be m-bɔri ni o gbahi piɛri ŋubi. O mi yi daa ti kuli miri piɛri maa ni be luɣ’ shɛli, o nyɛrila ŋun guli ba maa ni ʒɛya, ka wuntaŋ ti yɛn kpe ka o taɣi ba n-kpɛhi napɔɣu ni. Ka Kunduŋ ŋɔ bo soli lala hali ka di ti wum o. Dini n-nyɛ tɛha ti ka o na kadama o zaŋmi piɛɣu gbaŋ m-pili o maŋa n-gari piɛri maa ni, din yɛn che ka piɛgul’ maa ku baŋ o.

 

Ka Alaamishi dali zaawuni ti paai, ka Kunduŋ zaŋ piɛ’ gbaŋ m-pili o maŋa, n-kpe n-gari piɛri maa ni, ka daadam kam yi nya o ka ku baŋ o. Ka piɛgula mali hali nti taɣi piɛri maa mini Kunduŋ kpɛhi napɔɣu ni ka bi baŋ Kunduŋ. Piɛgula ni daa kuli kpari napɔɣu ka ŋmaligi, Kunduŋ daa dii daaila la’baligu ŋɔ bahi, ka yɛri piɛri maa: ”Zuŋɔ yuŋ ŋɔ malimiya shili. Yi nini ni nya n ni yɛn niŋ ya shɛm.” Di saha ka lɔɣu bali piɛri maa zaa noya ni.

Kunduŋ ŋɔ mi daa bi bori yɔma. Dama o daa borimi ni niriba ti gbihi maai zaa ka o naan pili piɛri maa ŋubbu. Dinzuɣu o daa kuli fahimi ŋari dunoli ni ka naan daai piɛri maa zaa m-bahi tiŋli sa.

Lala yili maa nim mi daa nyɛla chɛfirinima. Ashee lala dindali maa yuŋ maa ka bɛ daa yɛn gbaai bunkobigu m-mali bɛ buɣili. Bɛ buɣili maa mi malibu soli zuɣu daa wuhiya ni bɛ yi kuli yooi napɔɣu maa, n-kuli tiri gbaai binkɔb’ so, ŋuna ka bɛ yɛn zaŋ mali buɣili maa. Bɛ ni daa kuli yooi napɔɣu ŋɔ, Kunduŋ ka bɛ daa tuui gbaai. Ka Kunduŋ je ni o dam kpeeni ka bɛ baŋ o, dama o daa tɛhimi ni bɛ ni lahi yɛn labisi o mi n-niŋ napɔɣu maa ni. O ni ti yɛn baŋ ni nimmohi m-bala, dinsaha o mi lahi ka yibu shee yaha. Ban zaa daa be buɣugɔrigu ŋɔ ni daa baŋya ni Kunduŋ m-bala. Ka dii ʒe tilisi n-lu o zuɣu, n-ŋme o hali n-ti ku o.

Dinzuɣu, a kpee yi tɛhiri a din be nyin miri ka a yɛli ni a ni bohi o biɛri. Tiɛhimi o tiɛhi suma, ka lihimi Naawuni. O tiɛhi biɛri maa ni ti lahi ŋmaligi n-di o

 

Discussing the Tale “Kunduŋ Lɛbi Piɛɣu”

 Key Words

Moral Lessons from the story

The story emphasizes the need to avoid having evil intentions against others; the evil you plot against others would come back to you.

Importance of Dagbani Folktales

• Promotes our culture
• Teaches moral lessons
• Entertains us
• Helps in developing oral skills

Lesson By: Musah Fuseini

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