This is the best present I can say will make my body move, this is it, the
spoirit, the rthing.
I love this mail,m African gods & beliefs. This is the Bomb !
You make my DAY.
P/S: Kangaba that my Roots. Yiou know alot too. my sincere respect.
Oko
________________________________
From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, December 6, 2010 12:29:22 AM
Subject: Ace, while our friend Aboubacarr is busy on exams, I thought to share
this primer from wiki-wiki.
So the area of our prospective pilgrimmage in Kangaba. I'll try to get a picture
of the monument and share it here. Remember the KouroukanFouga can be
universalized for the purposes of the Kouroukanbaa for the faithful. That's
where a WACE Festival will come in.
Thank you for sharing the Guardian's update on Ivory Coast. Haruna.
Kouroukan Fouga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kouroukan Fouga or Kurukan Fuga is purported to be the constitution of the
Mali Empire (mid-thirteenth century to c. 1645), created after the Battle of
Krina by an assembly of notables to create a government for the newly
established empire. It was first alluded to in print in Djibril Tamsir Niane's
book, Soundjata, ou la Epoupée Mandingue. Subsequently versions of it were
published in Mandinka and translated by Youssouf Cissé into French in 1991, and
finally, a version of compiled in 1998 by a group of traditional historians as
well as modern linguists.
According to these texts, the Kouroukan Fouga established the federation of
Mandinka clans under one government, outlined how it would operate and
established the laws by which the people would live. Mansa (Emperor) Sundiata
Keita presented the document at a plain near the town of Ka-ba (present day
Kangaba), and it has survived through oral tradition passed down by generations
of djeli or griots. The djeli have preserved much of the history of the Mali
Empire including its kings, battles and system of government.
Contents[hide]
* 1 Rediscovery and publication
* 2 Historic and cultural importance
* 3 Contents
* 3.1 Social Organization
* 3.2 Of Goods
* 3.3 Preservation of Nature
* 3.4 Final Disposals
* 4 Notes
* 5 References
* 6 External links
[edit] Rediscovery and publication
Although texts of the Kouroukan Fouga were published earlier, notably by Cissé,
they were normally based on the testimony of a single informant. In order to
create a more comprehensive text, in 1998, a regional workshop was held in
Kankan, Guinea to publish and preserve the oral history related to the area's
djeli or griots. Assisted by modern communicators and Guinea linguists under the
supervision of Siriman Kouyaté, the leading traditionalists authority from
Niagasole in Guinea, transcribed and translated the laws and edicts preserved in
different regions from the core of the Mali Empire. Kouyaté then organized the
recorded edicts, making sure not alter their original translation.
The Kouroukan Fouga, as published by Kouyaté, contains 44 edicts. They are
divided into four sections concerned with Social Organization (edicts 1-30),
Property Rights (edicts 31-36), Environmental Protection (edicts 37-39) and
Personal Responsibilities (edicts 40-44).
[edit] Historic and cultural importance
Although it is purported to be a faithful reproduction of a charter created in
the fourteenth century, the Kouroukan Fouga, is a modern oral tradition. Niane,
Cissé, and others from the generation of scholars in the 1960s firmly believed
that the Mandinka jelis were capable of recalling ancient texts and facts for
great lengths of time without alteration. More recent scholars, however, have
questioned how much of this and other oral traditions about ancient Mali can
contain, and how many accretions or alterations have slipped in. While there is
not a consensus on the matter, the degree to which the modern text can be said
to be an unaltered text of the original charter, if indeed there were one at
that time, has to be considered controversial.[3]
For those who accept that the present version of the Kouroukan Fouga represents
the original charter, the Mali Imperial constitution is regarded as a landmark
achievement in the history of Africa and the world for several reasons. As far
as global significance, the document is one of the earliest declarations of
human rights. Its importance to Africa is demonstrated in three main
achievements. First, it established uniform laws and regulations over a
significant portion of West Africa (equal to the size of Western Europe) for the
first time in recorded history. Second, it afforded uniform rights for all
citizens including women and slaves, unheard of in many parts of the world.
Third, it is uniquely African in that it does not directly borrow from any
existing law documents as opposed to the Ethiopian Fetha Negest. The prominence
of the Mandinka in West Africa allowed the ideas and values within the Kouroukan
Fouga to spread far beyond the borders of the Mali Empire. Many peoples related
to the Mande still abide by its traditions.
[edit] Contents
The Kouroukan Fouga divided the new empire into ruling clans (lineages) that
were represented at a great assembly called the Gbara. There were 16 clans known
as the Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro (quiver carriers) responsible for leading and defending
the empire. There were also 4 clans known as the Mori-Kanda-Lolou (guardians of
the faith) that guided the ruling clans in matters of Islamic law. There were 4
nyamakala clans (people of caste) who had the monopoly on certain trades, which
included but was not limited to smelting, woodworking, and tanners. Lastly,
there were 4 clans of djeli (masters of speech) who recorded the history of the
empire through song. Combined these would make up the 29 seat Gbara at the plain
of Kouroukan Fougan (named after the event where Sundiata "divided the world").
The 30th seat was likely occupied by the mansa's djeli called the belen-tigui
(master of ceremonies), or may have been reserved for a female monitor since the
constitution states women are to be represented at all levels of government
(edict 16).
[edit] Social Organization
* Article 1: The Great Mande Society is divided into sixteen clans of quiver
carriers, five clans of marabouts, four groups of "nyamakalas" and one group of
slaves. Each one has a specific activity and role.
* Article 2: The "nyamakalas" must devote themselves to tell the truth to the
chiefs, to be their counsellors and to defend by the speech the established
rulers and the order upon the whole territory.
* Article 3: The five clans of marabouts are our teachers and our educators in
Islam. Everyone has to hold them in respect and consideration.
* Article 4: The society is divided into age groups. Those born during a period
of three years in succession belong to the same age-group. The members of the
intermediary class between young and old people, should be invited to take part
in the making of important decisions concerning the society.
* Article 5: Everybody has a right to life and to the preservation of physical
integrity. Accordingly, any attempt to deprive one's fellow being of life is
punished with death.
* Article 6: To win the battle of prosperity, the general system of supervision
has been established to fight against laziness and idleness.
* Article 7: The sanankunya (joking relationship) and the tanamannyonya (blood
pact) have been established among the Mandenkas. Consequently any contention
that occurs among these groups should not degenerate the respect for one another
being the rule. Between brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, between grandparents
and grandchildren, tolerance should be the principle.
* Article 8: The Keïta family is nominated reigning family upon the empire.
* Article 9: Children's education behooves the entire society. The paternal
authority in consequence falls to everyone.
* Article 10: We should offer condolences mutually.
* Article 11: When your wife or your child runs away, stop running after them
in the neighbour's house.
* Article 12: The succession being patrilinear, never relinquish power to a son
when one of his father's brothers is still alive. Never relinquish power to a
minor just because he has goods.
* Article 13: Never offend the Nyaras (the talented).
* Article 14: Never offend women, our mothers.
* Article 15: Never beat a married woman before her husband has tried to
correct the problem.
* Article 16: Women, apart from their everyday occupations, should be
associated with all our managements.
* Article 17: Lies that have lived for 40 years should be considered like
truths.
* Article 18: We should respect the law of primogeniture.
* Article 19: Any man has two parents-in-law: the parents of the girl we failed
to have and the speech we deliver without any constraint. We have to hold them
in respect and consideration.
* Article 20: Do not ill treat the slaves. We are the master of the slave but
not the bag he carries.
* Article 21: Do not follow up with your constant attentions the wives of the
chief, of the neighbour, of the marabout, of the priest, of the friend and of
the partner.
* Article 22: Vanity is the sign of weakness and humility the sign of
greatness.
* Article 23: Never betray one another. Respect your word of honour.
* Article 24: In Manden, do not maltreat the foreigners.
* Article 25: The ambassador does not risk anything in Manden.
* Article 26: The bull confided to your care should not lead the cattle-pen.
* Article 27: A girl can be given in marriage as soon as she is pubescent
without age determination.
* Article 28: A young man can marry at age 20.
* Article 29: The dowry is fixed at 3 cows: one for the girl, two for the
father and mother.
* Article 30: In Mande, divorce is tolerated for one of the following reasons:
the impotence of the husband, the madness of one of the spouses, the husband's
incapability of assuming the obligations due to the marriage. The divorce should
occur out of the village. (The French version published in 1998 does not include
this article, but splits article 34 into two, numbering the intervening articles
differently).
* Article 31: We should help those who are in need.
[edit] Of Goods
* Article 32: There are five ways to acquire property: buying, donation,
exchange, work and inheriting. Any other form without convincing testimony is
doubtful.
* Article 33: Any object found without a known owner becomes common property
only after four years.
* Article 34: The fourth heifer born is the property of the guardian of the
heifer. One egg out of four is the property of the guardian of the laying hen.
* Article 35: One bovine should be exchanged for four sheep or four goats.
* Article 36: To satisfy one's hunger is not robbery if you don't take away
anything in your bag or your pocket.
[edit] Preservation of Nature
* Article 37: Fakombè is nominated chief of hunters.
* Article 38: Before setting fire to the bush, don't look down at the ground,
raise your head in the direction of the top of the trees to see whether they
bear fruits or flowers.
* Article 39: Domestic animals should be tied during cultivation and freed
after the harvest. The dog, the cat, the duck and the poultry are not bound by
the measure.
[edit] Final Disposals
* Article 40: Respect kinship, marriage and the neighbourhood.
* Article 41: You can kill the enemy, but not humiliate him.
* Article 42: In big assemblies, be satisfied with your lawful representatives.
* Article 43: Balla Fassèkè Kouyaté is nominated chief of ceremonies and main
mediator in Manden. He is allowed to joke with all groups, in priority with the
royal family.
* Article 44: All those who will transgress these rules will be punished.
Everyone is bound to make effective their implementation.
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