Gassire's lute
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Gassire's Lute is a West African epic by Alta Jablow that tells the story of a prince that becomes a bard.
He does this after visiting a shaman who forsees this in his future. When he first obtains a lute that was made for him it will not play. He then complains to the shaman as to why his lute will not play, and the shaman tells Gassire to ride into battle with his lute. As enemies attack his city of Wagadu, Gassire rides into battle with one of his sons starting from the youngst to the oldest, and after many battles only his youngest son is left. Gassire sits down and plays his lute.
