Central Asia earliest written version in 14th/15th century CE; continues to be performed orally Anonymous, Alpamish The epic of Alpamish is the main heroic epic of the Uzbeks, but is also found in the oral tradition of other ethnic groups speaking Turkic...
Iroquois League of Five Nations Oral tradition: c. 1100-1450 CETranscribed on wampum belt: c. 1624Earliest publication (Mohawk Version): 1883 The Great Law of Peace (Kaianerekowa) The struggle to form a unifying law by the formerly strife-torn...
Madagascar First transcribed in 1830. Ibonia Madagascar’s Ibonia is a tale of an immaculate conception, a fiercely contested betrothal, and a bittersweet triumph. The epic was orally transmitted until 1830 when it was first written down in Malagasy. This occurred...
East Africa (Swahili) Oral tradition: 9th-13th century CEFirst transcribed: c. 13th century CE The Epic of Liyongo by Muhammad Bin Bakari Kijumwa: 1913 The Epic of Liyongo Introduction commissioned. Name of...
West Africa (the Sudanese empire of Old Mali) Oral tradition: c. 13th century CEWritten summaries (Arabic): before 1890Translations (French, German): 1890-1898First line-by-line transcription: 1967 Epic of Sun-Jata* Sun-Jata (Son-Jara, Sundiata) was the...
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