Culture of Mali

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A crowd of women in Mali.

The culture of

Mandé people
is shared by the modern Mali, and the empire from which its name originates from.

heterogeneity
, as well as syntheses where these traditions intermix

Ethnic patchwork and intermixing

See also: Demographics of Mali
A Dogon hunter with an old flintlock rifle still in use.

Mande people share a caste system in which certain skills (metalworking, fishing, history-keeping) are passed down through families. The rituals and cultural associations of these activities have spread far beyond the Mande communities themselves.

While the

Malinké - Dyula, and Bambara
people form a Mande core (at around 50%) of Malian culture in the densely populated regions of the south and east, a mosaic of other cultures also contribute to Malian society.

The

Macina, in the midst of the Inner Niger Delta was dominated by Fula people and culture.[2]

Songhay Empire pushing traditionally animist Dogon
deep into the isolating hill country of the southeast. Here the Dogon have maintained a unique culture, art, and lifestyle which has become a source of pride for all Malians.

All along the edge of the

Arab
-o-Berber origins. While making up only 10% of the population, these groups bring a distinct culture to modern Mali.

Music

Main article: Music of Mali
Amadou et Mariam
are known internationally for their music, combining Malian and international influences.

Malian musical traditions are often derived from Mande

griots
or jalis, a family-based caste of performing poets. While today, griots are often seen as praise singers at local weddings or civic events, where historically they served as court historians, advisors, and diplomats.

The

Amadou et Mariam, and Oumou Sangaré
.

Literature

Further information: Malian literature

Though Mali's literature is less famous than its music,

jalis reciting or singing histories and stories from memory.[4][5] Amadou Hampâté Bâ, Mali's best-known historian, spent much of his life recording the oral traditions of his own Fula teachers, as well as those of Bambara and other Mande neighbors.[5]

The best-known novel by a Malian writer is

Bambara Empire, focused on slavery, injustice and suffering.[4][5]

Francophone world for his work on The Epic of Sundiata as well as his "Kouta trilogy," a series of realist novels loosely based on contemporary life in his hometown of Kita. Other well-known Malian writers include Baba Traoré, Modibo Sounkalo Keita, Maryse Condé (a native of the French Antilles, has made a career writing about the Bamabara people from whom she descends), Moussa Konaté, and Fily Dabo Sissoko.[4][5] Ousmane Sembène, a Wolof Senegalese novelist, set half of his novel God's Bits of Wood in Bamako
.

Media

Main article:
Media of Mali

Festivals, food, and clothing

Bògòlanfini fabric.

The varied everyday culture of Malians reflects the country's ethnic and geographic diversity.[6] Most Malians wear flowing, colorful robes called boubloveous, that are typical of West Africa. Malians frequently participate in traditional festivals, dances, and ceremonies.[6]

Public holidays

Further information: Public holidays in Mali

Friday and Sunday are half days at most businesses, while Saturday is usually a day of rest. Friday afternoon is the time of

Christian sabbath is a tradition from the time of French colonial rule.[7] Muslim, Christian, and National celebrations are marked as public holidays in Mali
.

Christmas

Mainly a Muslim nation, Christmas is a public holiday celebrated by a significant proportion of Christians who make up less than 3% of the population. Some traditional festivities in big focus involve church services where worshippers spend over 30 hours in church during the Christmas period. They also speak different languages during services and every language group takes turn to sing a Christmas carol.

Food

Main article: Malian cuisine

mutton, beef, pork, or goat).[8][9]
Loco "plantains" are eaten most of the time along with tea

Malian cuisine varies regionally.

maafe
.

New ways of promoting Malian gastronomy are emerging through activities such as the "DIBI festival[10]". Which is a gastronomic, artistic and cultural meeting in Bamako, which is held over 3 days with good "Dibi" and show for a pleasant moment.

Textiles

Djenne
, Mali.

fermented mud, has an important place in traditional Malian culture, and has more recently, become a symbol of Malian cultural identity. The cloth is being exported worldwide for use in fashion, fine art, and decoration
.

Sports

Malian children playing football

Football is the most popular sport in Mali.[11][12] Mali's national team became more prominent, after hosting the 2002 African Cup of Nations but has never qualified for the World Cup despite making it to the final round of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers.[11][13] Most towns and cities have regular games;[13] the most popular national teams are Djoliba, Stad, and Real.[12] Informal games are often played by youths, using a buFUNndle of rags as a ball.[12]

Mali has produced several notable players namely

2008 Beijing Olympics.[15] Traditional wrestling (la lutte) is also somewhat common, though its popularity has declined in recent years.[13] The game wari, a mancala variant, is a common pastime.[12]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Cécile Canut et Étienne Smith, Pactes, alliances et plaisanteries. Pratiques locales, discours global, Cahiers d'études africaines, Parentés, plaisanteries et politique, No 184 (2006)
  2. ^ Claude Fay,"Car nous ne faisons qu’un", Identités, équivalences, homologies au Maasina (Mali), Cahiers des Sciences Humaines, Vol. 31, 1995, p. 427-456
  3. ^ Velton, p29.
  4. ^ a b c d Milet & Manaud, p128.
  5. ^ a b c d Velton, p28.
  6. ^ a b Pye-Smith & Drisdelle, p13.
  7. ^ Ly, Anh. Dispatch from Mali: Democracy at Play -- Soccer Coverage and Viewing for All. Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media - Volume 48, Number 1, Spring 2007, pp. 97-102
  8. ^ a b c Velton, p30.
  9. ^ a b c Milet & Manaud, p146.
  10. ^ "Le Festival du Dibi, Bamako, Bamako (2021)". www.findglocal.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  11. ^ a b c Milet & Manaud, p151.
  12. ^ a b c d e f DiPiazza, p55.
  13. ^ a b c Hudgens, Trillo, and Calonnec, p320.
  14. Africabasket.com
    .
  15. ^ Chitunda, Julio. "Ruiz looks to strengthen Mali roster ahead of Beijing". FIBA.com (March 13, 2008).

Works cited

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