The Tribes of Mali
Mali is very much like other African countries in that it is composed of many diverse, native tribes. These tribes and their unique cultures play an important role within the agricultural system of Mali. The manner in which tribesmen interact both individually and collectively is one of the many influences they wield. As important, are the religious and spiritual traditions that they have practiced for centuries. The customs of the people have both shaped and been shaped by the semi-arid climate of Mali. The cultural and agricultural systems are also intimately linked to the political systems that were and are now in place today. The culture of the people has been shaped with the presence of the French colonists many years ago and is currently being molded because of the political structure currently in place. Having existed for centuries, the native people of Mali have a very far-reaching history. As this paper's focus is on the present agricultural system of Mali, the tribes will be examined only how they exist today except where some history is needed to explain an existing situation. The people of Mali are divided into seven ethnic tribes: the Bamana, Bobo, Bwa, Dogon, Fulani, Senufo, and Tuareg. These seven groups
Hopefully they will learn to peacefully coexist and realize that they rely on one another. 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).
Common topics in this essay:
African Art,
Mali African,
Gray Dogon,
McIntyre Dogon,
Bamana Senufo,
French Bwa,
McIntyre Bwa,
Overland Due,
Overland Agriculture,
Gray Bamana,
african art,
agricultural system,
system mali,
agricultural system mali,
burkina faso,
masking tradition,
bamana bobo,
political power,
tribes bamana bobo,
cereal grains,
family head,
variation voltaic,
extensive masking tradition,
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Acceptance Essays
