One day Samba, son of Faraka, king of Gana, rode out in search of fame, accompanied by Tarafe, his sagacious teacher, a great scholar and poet.  When they stopped to camp, Tarafe strung his instrument and sang of the beauty of Annalia, Queen of Wa-Gana.  “None is more beautiful that she!  Only the prince who will conquer eighty towns for her will win her!”  Excited, Samba jumped up, called for his horse, and ordered his men in the saddle.  “We will ride to the kingdom of Annalia Tu-Bari at once!”

They rode night and day until they reached Wa-Gana, where Samba had an audience with the queen of incomparable beauty.  “I will rescue your eighty towns!” he declared, and then rode out with his small army of loyal, brave men.  Each time he routed the army of an enemy king, he sent his defeated opponent to Queen Annalia Tu-Bari, saying: “Go and pay homage to the queen of Wa-Gana. She is now our sovereign.”  Soon all eighty towns were in his hands.

Finally, with the ruler of the last town to fall as his captive, prince Samba rode up to the palace of Queen Annalia Tu-Bari in Wa-Gana.  After the defeated king had knelt before the queen and surrendered to her, Annalia spoke to prince Samba: “You have succeeded.  I am yours.  Marry me!”

Great was the joy in the city of Wa-Gana when its queen Annalia married the heir to the throne of Gana, Prince Samba, who had restored the kingdom.  Only the queen never laughed.  What sadness gnawed her heart?  At last her devoted husband succeeded in making her confess what she still lacked to be happy.  She spoke: “My king and husband! The holy river Jollibe, the Niger, used to be full of water all year round.  Now its banks are dry and only mud flows on its bottom.  The cattle die for lack of grass, the people for lack of rice.  The water is withheld by a monster that lives in the mountains.  It is the terrible serpent Isa Bere.  Go and kill it for me!”

“That is impossible!  Queen of Gana and Wa-Gana, ruler of a hundred towns, no man can rule Isa Bere, only God commands it.  It is the drought that causes death to man and beast.  Who on earth can kill it?”  Alas! His honor was involved.   Could a prince of Gana refuse the plea of his queen?  Could he refuse to ride in search of deeds, fame, and glory?  Was he a coward, a stay-at-home? No.

Prince Samba rode out with his men to confront Isa Bere, the monster that causes drought, God’s scourge.  Prince Samba rode past Koriume, past Bamba, higher and higher into the mountains of Fouta-Jallon.  At last he saw Isa Bere.  It was a terrible sight!  Eight years they battled.