Interpreting Sukuma (Tanzania) Song Texts as Historical Sources

FAIN: FT-54282-06

Frank D. Gunderson
Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL 32306-0001)

The investigator requests funds which will support the summer 2006 preparation of a multi volume publication. This project is a detailed interpretive analysis of a personal collection of Sukuma song texts which shall be treated as primary historical sources. These texts will be published in a series of 4 volumes by Brill Academic Publishers, as a part of their African Sources for African History series. The PI has collected and translated over 1200 song texts from various oral, written, and recorded sources. Acting as an interpretive editor, he will continue collaboration with several Tanzanian scholars, cultural commentators, and translators over the summer, and will wrap the project up while on sabbatical during the fall of 2006.