By Elisabeth den Otter

Kirango is an old village located on the bank of the Niger river, about 35 km north-east of the city of Ségou. The inhabitants are Bamanan (farmers) and Bozo/Somono (fishermen). Both ethnic groups celebrate their masquerades, each in its own way. For the Bozo/Somono circumcision is a very important ceremony, which takes place about every ten years. For that occasion, they organize a masquerade, with dances, masks, and ‘sogow’ (literally ‘animals’) that represent an animal, symbolic or domestic. They are accompanied by drumming and singing.

Circumcision

The afternoon of the circumcision, around 100 young boys of the Jaka quarter assemble next to the mosque, accompanied by the imam, elders of the leading Karabenta family, and male relatives. After the prayer they all go to the Karabenta dwellings, where they are blessed by the oldest family member. After that they go to the place where circumcision will take place. The next morning the circumcised boys go in procession to the mosque, accompanied by an elder of the Karabenta family, male family members, drummers, and women singing. They are dressed in a dark blue tunic and cap, covered with a white garment, and carry rattles made of calabash discs. Finally, they go to the Karabenta dwellings; after having visited the tomb of the elder, they are settled in the compound where they will stay for about ten days. The oldest Karabenta member attaches an amulet to the tunic of each boy.

Masquerade of the Bozo/Somono

The organization of the masquerade, which coincides with the circumcision ceremonies, is in the hands of the ‘ton’, the youth association. The animals represent mainly aquatic animals, and are made of a bamboo frame covered with cloth. A man with a hand bell guides the masks. At night, a number of them appear, such as the fish (‘Wulujege’ and ‘Saalen’), a pair of scorpions which represent twins (‘Bunteninw’), the crocodile (‘Bama’) and the snake (‘Sa’). They have no legs, and are manipulated by a man crawling on all fours; one might call it a ‘body puppet’. ‘Jinè’, the Genie, is a new puppet. ‘Bala’, the Porcupine and ‘Mari’, the Hippopotamus, are much appreciated by the public.

After a few days, the animals come out  in the afternoon. The circumcised boys arrive at the plaza to see ‘Kono’, the Bird, a cloth-covered frame to which a rod puppet in the shape of a bird’s head is attached; on his back, he carries two small birds made of cloth. This sogo is very important. He is followed by two Bush spirits (‘Wokuloninw’), hunters armed with bows and arrows, that can be seen only at night. Finally, everybody goes down to the river bank to witness the appearance of the Dog-fish (‘Wulujege’) and of the Crocodile (‘Bama’) swimming in the Niger river, animals which are feared and can only be captured by the strongest men.

Camera and editing: Elisabeth den Otter ©

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