The Oral Tradition of the Tortoise and the Image of Louis XIV: A Proposal for a Didactic Sequence on Notions of Power in Lunda (Central Africa) and Absolutism

Abstract

This article proposes the pedagogical application of the oral tradition of the tortoise and the partridge, originating from the Lunda region (Central Africa), in parallel with the construction of the image of Louis XIV, the “Sun King”. To this end, we propose the analysis of the oral tradition transcribed and translated by João Vicente Martins (1971) within the context of forced labor at the Companhia de Diamantes de Angola (Diamang), and the painting produced by Hyacinthe Rigaud (1701), entitled “The Sun King, Louis XIV of France”. The main objective is to demonstrate the potential of using sources from Lunda History to decolonize history teaching and problematize different notions of power in Basic Education, confronting the European anthropocentric cosmoperception (represented by French Absolutism) with the Lunda-Cokwe biointeraction cosmoperception (from the oral tradition of the tortoise). The adopted methodology combines critical analysis grounded in theoretical frameworks, culminating in the development of a pedagogical sequence for the 7th grade of Elementary School. As main results, a three-class intervention proposal was structured, which operationalizes teacher-mediated debates and an individual written systematization assessment activity. Thus, it seeks to decentralize knowledge originating from Europe by demonstrating other forms of organization. It is concluded that the Lunda oral tradition constitutes a relevant resource for history teaching, contributing to compliance with Law 10,639/03.