Items

• Records of grants made as part of On the Line, 1999-2001 and n.d. [c.2000]

  The collection contains the records for 'OTL 006 Poetry On the Line', an On the Line operational project, in which West African schoolchildren were invited to write poems on gender relations in the new Millennium, which were then made into a book, Feb-Dec 2000 - possibly contains the booklet
• Chatwin's research and papers concerning 'The Viceroy of Ouidah' contains 'Notes or words possibly for a Benin song.

  Research material and notes, [1976-1977].
• Mitchell's notes on the 'Kalela Dance' includes 'Transcriptions of verses of Kalela songs' and notes on the 'Kalela Dance', n.d. and a typescript in an African language, n.d.

  Working data, research notes and correspondence, 1955-83.
• The Oxford Group Archive contains 'Freedom', 1956, a play "written by a group of Africans from all parts of the African continent, who have been in the forefront of the struggle for the freedom of their countries" which may contain verse and/or poetry.
• Poster designed by David King with 'A poem for Nelson Mandela and all political prisoners in South Africa' written by South African schoolchildren as part of the Mandela Poetry Project
• Song sung by the villagers of Mwamakaremo to drive away suspected witches.

  The papers cover the years 1936 to 1956 and reflect many, but not all, of the aspects of his work as a magistrate in Tanganyika, the East African Court of Appeal, etc.
• Box 4, Files 2-4

  "Fetish". Notes and papers on witchcraft, fetishes, juju, etc., amon the Yako; Notes and trypescript papers on witches, diviners and magic among the Yako.
• Box 2, File 3. "Yako - External Relations, Neighbouring Tribes incl. Ejagham, Nbembe, etc".

  Notes, reports an papers on the history and customs of neighbouring tribes, and their relations with the Yako.
• Manuscript copies of a Zulu version of Nkosi Sikilel' i Afrika (perhaps misattributed composer) and Mangaung from 1932 [now the South African national anthem]

  Collected by or gifted to the 6th Earl of Clarendon (or his wife) who served as the Governor General of South Africa Jan 1931-Mar 1937
• Box 1, File 3. 'The Lisetomi Rites', a speech with some poetic statements given by the Yako chief on the Harvest, with other speeches and rites that might be of interest to poetry researchers.

  The papers of antrhologicial and geographical Professor Daryll Forde, containing his correspondence with a Nigerian doing research for Forde in Yako territory, and with government officials and others in Nigeria about his work on the Yako people; correspondence with a Nigerian and with government officials about Yako customs, with related notes and papers.
• A traditional poem attributed to Liongo Fumo entitled 'Mashairi haya aliporudi Liongo zitani kwa Wasegeju', with some notes on his legend. (Extr., Festschrift Meinhof, with commentary and notes by Alice Werner).

  William Harold Ingrams was Assistant District Commissioner in Zanzibar from 1919-1927, when he went to Mauritius as Colonial Secretary until 1934. He is the author of a number of works on Zanzibar, Mauritius, Arabia, Hong Kong, Uganda and the Yemen. This collection contains his papers, research, correspondence and other documents.
• Fols. 27-28: poems entitled 'Scott the Blackman' and 'Liberty over Nyasaland' by a 'Hartwell Solomon' (uncertain as to whether this is an African or Englishman) written around the time of Michael Scott's 1953 visit to the Nyasa chiefs.

  The Bureau's archive consists of papers relating to the running of Africa Bureau, organised by the territory to which they refer.
• Folder 2. Transcripts of Maponya's lyrics and poems used in the recording of a CD, 'Busang Meropa' ('Bring Back the Drums', 1987) which honours six South African languages (Xhosa, Zulu, Shangaan, Sepedi, Sesotho, plus English). Typescript and manuscript drafts of these poems. Drafts of 'Umongizaki' and the song 'Nyuka, Nqkayi Ndini', 'Ntsikana' and various other protest songs, with their English translations. Typescript draft of 'Gangsters' with various poems and songs throughout. Other miscellaneous manuscripts for unpublished poems entitled 'Tremour', 'We Know Them', etc. Further typescripts of 'Busang Meropa'.

  The Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) archive contains material from its the beginnings of the Movement in the late 1950s as the Boycott Committee to a few years after is dissolution in 1994 and the creation of its successor organisation, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA). The collection includes poems and scripts by Maishe Maponya with press cuttings and leaflets concerning the Bahumutsi Theatre Company and drawings by George Msimango, 1970s-1990s.
• Folder 1. 'The Hungry Earth' (1979), fols. 6, 17, 23, 27-28: various songs sung by characters on stage. The programme for the British Tour in May-August 1981 contains the English texts of all the songs. The programme for 'Umongikazi' contains English translations of the songs in the play. The poem 'Elethu' (written 1979) in original African language is folded in the back of a typescript draft for 'Dirty Work'; the poem is heard from offstage at the beginning of the 'First Encounter' in 'Gangsters'.

  The Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) archive contains material from its the beginnings of the Movement in the late 1950s as the Boycott Committee to a few years after is dissolution in 1994 and the creation of its successor organisation, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA). The collection includes poems and scripts by Maishe Maponya with press cuttings and leaflets concerning the Bahumutsi Theatre Company and drawings by George Msimango, 1970s-1990s.
• File 14 (A90): 'Prof. Mrs Dorothy Hodgkin Abodin Annwonsɛm', a Ghanaian poem praising Hodgkin for her Nobel Prize in English and Aka (possibly Twi dialect).

  This collection of additional papers contains biographical, personal and research material relating to Hodgkin, winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1964. The papers in this supplement are those accessed by Georgina Ferry when on temporary loan to the Bodleian and used for the writing her biography on Hodgkin. See https://archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/3222.
• Fols. 17-18, 25: short songs in original Swahili and English translation on various marriage traditions. Fols. 51-55: miscellaneous traditional songs and lullabies of the Meru in Swahili and English. Fol. 84: short song concerning M. Kikiru. Fols. 111-115: songs relating to women's institutions and traditions in Meru society and songs sung by the women's council at Githongo on Nov 30th 1943. Fol. 199: harvest song.

  Essays, memoranda and notes on customs and folklore of the Meru tribe, Kenya. Typescript.
• File 7. 'Masai'. Manuscript on Masai history by Hamilton. Unpublished. Many Masai songs, prayers, and poems throughout, some of which are duplicates of those in File 4. In particular, see fols 29, 31, 119-120, 133, 145-147, 151-156, 170-172, 186, 191, at similar intervals until end.

  The collection includes correspondence on the Masai tribe, Kenya, with collections of tribal folk-tales and songs, articles on life in Kenya and a MS history of the Masai.
• File 6, fol. 18: Masai song about baboons.

  The collection includes correspondence on the Masai tribe, Kenya, with collections of tribal folk-tales and songs, articles on life in Kenya and a MS history of the Masai.
• File 4, fols. 1-119: large number of Masai songs, prayers, chants and poems on various topics and for ceremonial occasions in both original Masai language with English translation. All included in the unpublished manuscript 'Masai' (File 7).

  The collection includes correspondence on the Masai tribe, Kenya, with collections of tribal folk-tales and songs, articles on life in Kenya and a MS history of the Masai.
• File 12 (Box III, file 4). Aglen. Notes on the folklore, customs, songs and history of Kordofan (Sudan). Fols. 5-6: Songs of H. Bedina & Others of Central District (Kordofan), from Khingeit (Alloba). Fols. 7-8: Lovers Songs, Marriage Songs. Fols 8-13: Miscellaneous songs. Fols. 48-51: List of proverbs in original African language and translation. Fols. 54-56: Songs and nursery rhymes

  Personal papers of Percy Coriat relating to service in the Sudan, 1920-1960.
• 1628 (2). Fols. 15-18: Transcribed proverbs and short poems in Yoruba and English translation. Proverbs and saying scattered throughout. Other possible poems in Yoruba on fols. 33, 37, 74. Extensive list of idioms on fols 57-61.

  Papers on education, native customs, folklore, history and secret societies in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, including sketches, photographs, articles and notes; also transcripts of diaries of George Ross, Superintended of Maroons in Sierra Leone, 1800-01, and extracts from the diary of John Clarkson, R.N., 1791-92.
• 1628 (1). 'Nigeria Folklore History', fol. 8: In a section entitled 'Ile' or 'The Earth', there is a poem entitled 'Ajisafe Itan Abeokuta' by Bishop Akinyele. Fol. 9: Proverbs in an African language. Fol. 15: Yoruba proverbs and salutations. Fol 16: a record of songs sung at Gelede Festival. Fol. 23: More proverbs and sayings. Fol. 26: Possible poem in Yoruba entitled 'Iwe Iwosan' ti Dr Odumosu, ara Ijebu-ode. Fol. 27: Poetic autograph notes on 'Abiko'.

  Papers on education, native customs, folklore, history and secret societies in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, including sketches, photographs, articles and notes; also transcripts of diaries of George Ross, Superintended of Maroons in Sierra Leone, 1800-01, and extracts from the diary of John Clarkson, R.N., 1791-92.
• Item 4. Northern Nigeria. Historical Notes on certain Emirates and Tribes.

  This collection includes the papers of Olive Temple and Charles Lindsay Temple. The 'Historical Notes on Certain Emirates and Tribes' of Northern Nigeria booklet contains songs in praise of Yagi (p. 29), the song of Kanajeji (p. 30), of Galadima (p. 31), in praise of Sarki (p. 33), Kwoshi (p. 36), Dabo (p. 43), Abdulahi (p. 44), as well as many other proverbs and snippets of songs scattered throughout.
• Item 3. Johnson (O.): Lagos Past. (Lagos Inst. Paper).

  This collection includes the papers of Olive Temple and Charles Lindsay Temple. The 'Lagos Past' paper from 1901 included amongst their typescript notes for various handbooks on Northern Nigeria includes on page 20-21 a poem in an original African language (Igbo or Yoruba) uttered by a bard on the event of the Ibadan army marching against the Ijayes in 1860. There are also short proverbs and extracts of poetry on pages 4 and 15. Within the same collection, Item 2 also contains some Hausa proverbs, although these may be too brief to be of interest.
• f. 35. Philip (John) to James Crapper concerning his attack on slavery, his own experiences and findings among the Hottentots, and the English translation of a song from Madagascar.

  The 'Song Concerning the Dead' is 'translated literally from the Madagascan language.' He praises the quality of the poem, provides a commentary and explanation of his encounter with it, and even compares it to Gray's 'Elegy'.