Bamanan songs from Kirango and Pelengana (Mali)
by Elisabeth den Otter
The song 'Fasiya' (Heritage) is an invitation to preserve the cultural heritage of the Bamanan, which is disappearing; it also evokes the great fetishes that are no longer worshipped. This song was composed by Moussa Diakité, the singer of the group from Kirango. He is accompanied by Youssouf Dembelé who plays the 'ngoni' (a traditional lute with four strings), and Maïmouna Koné who plays the 'gita filen' (half-calabash) and sings as well. Moussa and Maïmouna are also lead-singers during the annual masquerade (see this website, under Puppetry/Mali).
Kirango is a village located on the bank of the Niger river, about 40 kilometers north-east of the city of Ségou. It belongs to the community of Markala, which is well-known for the dam which was constructed in the 1940s in order to irrigate a large area of rice fields. The song 'Marakala babili' (the dam of Markala) talks about the suffering of the people that participated in the construction of the dam.
The songs tell about loved ones, honor parents and various professions, talk about historical figures, and praise the kings of Ségou and their descendants. A number of songs are sung during circumcision ceremonies. Although islam forbids the worship of Bamanan fetishes, the memory of them is still strong, as may be heard in the song 'Nyananso': when the house of the fetishes was destroyed, bad things happened in the village. Warnings are issued as well: against bragging and disrespect, symbols of fear; against indiscrete people who sow discord; and against gossip: "As long as you are alive, you will not lack enemies".
Pelengana is a village close to Ségou. Bina Coumaré and his son Bréhima accompany their singing on the 'sokou', a traditional fiddle with one string.
A number of songs honor people, like 'Jekoro', a hero of the kingdom of Ségou; the blacksmiths (to which caste the Coumaré's belong); and 'Nama', the hyena, an important personage of the masquerade. Other songs talk about the importance of having children ("No fortune is worth a child"), who will take care of their parents when they are old.
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