The Tribes of Mali

The six societies that exist within the Bamana also govern the political hierarchy of the tribe. Also called Pular people they speak both Pular and Fulfulde. To the Bobo the world, created by their god Wuro is a highly ordered world in which a balance exists among all things. Other societies maintain both spiritual and agricultural purposes i. In addition, as a subgroup of the Mande, the Bobo primarily speak Bobo, which is also a dialect of Mande.

The Fulani were one of the first tribes in West Africa to embrace Islam. In addition to crops such as bananas, manioc and rice, they also raise many different types of animals. From these social groups come four different societies that wield political power through rules and laws to live by as well as spiritual power through their communication with their ancestors and the bush spirits (African Art). One of their major crops is cotton which was generally grown in large cooperative farms that were not only economically important but also socially important. Existing in the southern tip of Mali and the North of Cote d’Ivorie the Senufo are also an agricultural people. As a troublesome creature, Man is constantly disrupting this balance and disturbing the order of things. The Bobo like the Bamana are Mande who have dwelt in the area for over 1100 years. Living in disperse, autonomous villages the Bobo are quite self-sufficient perhaps due to their small population (~110,000).