Thoughts on the Magumi

A topic we have been thinking about whilst revisiting sources on the Bulala Sultanate of Fitri is the clan name Magumi. We had not considered it in much depth since encountering a gloss of its meaning as "free-born" in Koelle's dictionary. Although the name or word magumi very well could have also signified free-born status or people, it's also clearly associated with the Sayfawa Dynasty as the royal clan of Kanem and Borno. The form of the word could also be affiliated with an archaic version of the word mai. The -mi suffix at the end connotes descent from, as in "son of." Thus, Magumi should literally mean son of or descendants of Magu (or Mague? Maga?). This can be seen in the divisions of the Magumi named after various maiwa the branches claimed descent from (see Nachtigal's Sahara and Sudan for a list of them). So, if not originally a clan name, it emerged as one through the numerous descendants of the rulers of Kanem and Borno. Perhaps Magu, Maga, or Mague was the original form of the word mai? Or did it become the word for king due to the growing power of the royal clan?

Another form of Magumi survived among the Bulala royal clan as Maga. According to Henri Carbou, the Bulala in Fitri referred to themselves as Maga, Magga, or Maggue, clearly related to the Magu in the Kanuri Magumi. It also manifested among the Bulala memories of a leader named Ali Gatel Magabirni. Carbou also proposed an etymology for Maga based on the Tubu language, with Mâga as containing the word maï (sultan) and the  suffix ga to denote relation. Carbou may be more likely correct about the meaning of Toumagera (masters of the Tou, or Tibetsi). 

Yet one also notices speakers of other Nilo-Saharan languages seemingly referring to themselves with words that almost sound like Maga or Magu. For instance, in medieval Nubia, the people of Nobadia were Migi (ⲙⲓⲅⲓ). In Old Nubian, a word for people is Mugi or Magi, reminiscent of the Magu(mi) of Kanem and Borno. One can also point to the Maiga of the Songhay for the nobility. There may be no connection at all, but one wonders if the word could be related to something deeper in Nilo-Saharan languages. 

The Last Devil to Die

The fourth entry in The Thursday Murder Club series was a hoot and a holler. The Last Devil to Die contains a fitting tribute to Stephen, the husband of Elizabeth whose dementia is worsening. Ron's relationship with Pauline has continued while Joyce shows she can take charge and orchestrate events like Elizabeth. As for the actual mystery here, centered on who killed Kuldesh Sharma and what became of the antique box containing the missing heroin, we did not predict the killer's identity until nearly the end (by which point it was obvious). Lots of useful misdirection here, some humor, moments of grief and emotional vulnerabilities, and twists. Bringing back characters from earlier books in the series, even if just for a chapter or two or referencing them by name was a lot of fun for fans. We only hope the next book in the series can be a fitting end to the unlikely band of sleuths. There are certainly enough loose ends from past cases to resolve. 

Borno Basketry

Whilst perusing Staatliche Museen zu Berlin's website for pictures of objects brought back to Europe by Gustav Nachtigal, we came across a color photo of one of the beautiful basket covers. Nachtigal's Sahara and Sudan includes sketches of basket covers Nachtigal saw in Borno in the 19th century. One of them bears a resemblance to the basket cover below, sitting in Germany. Nachtigal also brought back basket covers from Darfur which are quite exquisite, too.

Final Fantasy VIII: Waltz on the Moon

Yet another classic song from the great age of JRPG videogames. Back in 1999, we all thought this was amazing. There truly was a golden age of JRPGs in the 1980s and 1990s...with perhaps Final Fantasy IX and a few other series continuing it into the early part of this century.

Indigenous Caribbean Amulets (?)from Leogane and Mariani

 

Whilst taking another look at Nicolson's book with its sketches of Amerindian antiquities of Saint Domingue, we noticed that one of the "fetishes" sketched back in the 18th century bears a remarkable resemblance to a figure found in Mariani and photographed in the 20th century. Identified as an amulet in L'art précolombien d'Haiti, the frog-like position of the legs and arms and the pronounced sexual themes suggest the piece may have been associated with fertility. If it really was an amulet or charm made of stone and worn by the user, perhaps it was meant to promote fertility and childbirth? 

The fact that very similar objects made of stone found in Leogane parish during the 1700s and Mariani centuries later points to this object's form having a recognizable meaning in the lands encompassed by the Xaragua chiefdom. Although we are still unsure  exactly what it is, it appears to combine symbols of fertility with a human and frog-like position. This recurring symbolism of the frog seems to be consistent with indigenous Caribbean art since the Saladoid cultures of ancient Puerto Rico. One can also note the similarities between these two pieces and some of the depictions of sitting or crouching women in petroglyphs at sites like Caguana.  

Gambaru in Hallam

 

We tried to snap a photo of W.K.R. Hallam's photograph of the Gambaru ruins recently. Originally in an article published in Nigeria Magazine entitled "Komadugu Yobe: The First and Last River," Hallam's article is rather brief on the early history of this region. Since it was published in the 1960s, the article also relies on less accurate chronologies for the Sayfawa Dynasty. Nonetheless, the claim that Biyoma, the "first" historical mai, was buried at Yo (a town on the south bank of the Komadugu Yobe), is interesting for possible references to an early presence of Kanem kings in the Borno region.

The Bullet That Missed

We found Richard Osman's The Bullet That Missed to be a significant improvement over the second entry in the series. Featuring our lovable cast of elderly sleuths, the novel also introduces new romances, intrigue, and humor. Here, however, the humor was less jarring and the ultimate mystery here was well-plotted. We were particularly fond of the resolution of the Viking's plot to kill Viktor, an old KGB spy acquaintance of Elizabeth. We shall probably continue reading the series to see what happens next with these characters, particularly Stephen's ongoing battle with dementia.