De l'idéologie dans "L'épopée de Bubu Ardo Galo" : lecture d'une épopée songhay-zarma

International audienceThe study of culturally different fictions is highly interesting from an anthropological point f view, as a narrative will always reveal many aspects of the society witch produced it. This article propose a pragmatic analysis of a zarma epic (Zarma being an ethnic group of Niger). The epic relates the story of a peul heroe from Macina, currently a region in Mali. During the nineteenth century, West-African societies were affected by deep transformations, as the traditional culture was put into question. In an attempt to reintroduce the traditional values, society singles out an historical character symbolizing these values and turns him into a myth around whom a collective discourse is organized. Related today to a generation which itself is deeply affected by transformations, the epic becomes a mirror of the zarma society and a tool to teach the right way to follow. The dialogue between the present and the past can begin..