Some aspects of the Mandé Myth Problem

Of great interest is Dieterlen's Mythe et Organisation sociale au Soudan francais, dealing with the traditions of a large number of tribes, caste-bound families etc. that are said to have emigrated from a Mande. This emigration is celebrated every 7th year in the village of Kaba Kangaba on the Upper Niger, souch-west of Bamako, under the leadership of the Malinke living in this village. According to information given to Dieterlen by Griots, one finds among these tribes and families a number of Keita families, i. e. descendants of the Mali ruler Soundiata, some Marabout families, and four castebound families, which include, amongst others, Griots and smiths (numu), as well as a large number of tribes such as the Dogon, Ouloff, Serer, Bobo-fi, Hausa, Samogho, Khassonke, Bambara, Dyoula, Mossi and Bozo. If the traditions handed down by the Griots are based upon events that actually took place, then a couple of passages in the above-mentioned essay are worth noting. In the chapter headed Edification du second sanctuaire (p. 49) we are told of the village of Kaba that le nom Kaba, rappelant ainsi qu'il avait pour centre un champ de mais - Kaba, Cereale

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• The Mande Creation Myth

  Open Access•Germaine Dieterlen•Africa•1957

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