Chronicles of Songhay Empire's Askyas (Kings) 1493-1599
Gao (Gawgaw, Kawkaw)
Title
The Askia's proclamation in the mosque of Gao
Short description
The Askia's proclamation in the mosque of Gao through his interpreter.
Text on source
ومما يوثر من كرم اسكي اسحاق وجوده انه قال في مجلسه يوماً وهو يوم عيد الفطر وسنغي كله حاضرون واعيان بلد ݣاع وخاصِّتها وعامتها وقال لترجمانه وَندُع قل لهذه الجماعة هل بقى احد من اهل ݣاع من لم يدخل يده اعطاءي وصدقتي في داره من هذه رمضان وكل من لم يصل اليه سببي واعطاءى فليقم ويذكر ذلك ونعطيه الان فقالها وندع وهو قائم على رجليه ينادي به ويكرِّره ولم يخرج منهم احد يذكر انه لم يصله منحه وشاع ذلك القول في البلد وكن الناس يسال بعضهم بعضًا عن ذلك ولم يقل احد انه لم ير خيره ولا وصله اعطاؤه في ذلك [ص. ١٤٥]
English translation
Here is yet another of the traits that are often cited in regards to his generosity and liberality. While speaking one day as he held an audience in the presence of a gathering of Songhay - it was the day of the festival for the breaking of the fast - and in the presence of various notable citizens, as well as common people of Gao, he said to his interpreter, the wanduʿ, say: Does it remain in this audience
anyone among the people of Gao who didn't receive from my giving or favouring in his house during this Ramadan? Whoever wasn't reached by my munificence and favouring, let him stand up and mention it and we will give it to him right away. [The interpreter] said that aloud while standing on his feet and repeated it but no one among them came out of the crowd to mention that he didn't receive from his munificence. The news of his saying spread throughout the town and the people questioned one another on this subject, but no one could say that he had not enjoyed the munificence (of the king), or that he had not received a present from him.
Folios/Pages
261
Date
1588 circa
Observations on the events description
The official delivering the message is called with the Arabic "tarjumān" and Songhay "wanduʿ" both literally meaning "translator" and both referring to a royal spokesman who does not necessarily translate from one language to another (Dede, 2022).
The dots on the map indicate the places where sound and music events were described. They don't represent travel stages.
Participants
Name
Role
Notes
Edit
Delete
II, Isḥāq
Viewer
Askia (King)
How to quote
Pintimalli A., "The Askia's proclamation in the mosque of Gao" (Event description), Echos. Sound Ecosystems in Travelogues. Published 2024 09 13.doi: 10.25430/echos.travels.137
This work is licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0 
