The Dragon Stone

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Location:
Mali, West Africa

Description:
This version of the story of Bida is retold from a Soninke legend recorded by Leo Frobenius. The Soninke are spread throughout many countries in West Africa. This is the version told in Mali.

Lagarre, son of Dinga, was advised by the hero Koliko about the serpent-dragon Bida. Bida lived outside of Wagadu. Lagarre's grandfather used to give the serpent ten girls a year in return for it raining gold three times a year. Koliko advised that the serpent would want the same deal from Lagarre, but that he should hold out for one girl a year.

Lagarre did this, and Bida accepted the deal of one girl.

The tale then describes the cunning of Mamadi Sefe Dekote, who finds a way into the house of another man, Wagana Sako, where the only way to enter was jumping over on a horse. He does this by breeding a mare with the stallion belonging to Wagana Sako. In this way, he breeds a horse that is also able to jump the wall.

The time came to sacrifice a girl to Bida. The girl would be the next first born of the city. This girl was Sia Jatta Bari, renowned for her beauty and the lover of Mamadi Sefe Dekote. She was dressed up as though for a wedding; she was considered to be the bride of Bida.

When the time came for the sacrifice, Mamadi accompied Sia to the well where Bida lived. The serpent would stick its head out three times before taking the offering. Mamadi waited with her until Bida poked his head out for the third time, then cut it off with a sword.

As the head flew through the air, Bida said that the golden rain would not fall for seven years, seven months and seven days. Where the head came to rest, gold could be found.

Related Dragons:

• Bida (General)
• Ouagadou-Bida

Selected References: McNamee, Gregory (2000)

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