Page 107 - Empires of Medieval West Africa

E m p i r E s o f m E d i E v a l w E s t a f r i c a

Hunter (Jarafaga Donso) or Buffalo Killing
Hunter (Sigifaga Donso).
Historically, authority in Mande was usu-
ally based on age, with the oldest son of a
particular family succeeding the father. But
with hunters, the chief was the one who was
accepted into the society before everyone else.
Among the regular members, a son or younger
brother who joined first was senior to his
father or older brother.
The chief of the hunters did not need to
be a great hunter or of any particular social
status. He could even be the descendant of a
slave. He would remain chief until his death,
when he was succeeded by the next hunter
with seniority in the association.
When there were large wild animals that
killed cattle or destroyed crops, the hunters’
association would hold a meeting before a big
group hunt. In modern times they meet on
special occasions, such as Mali’s Independence
Day (September 22). The most frequent occa-
sions for hunters’ association meetings are
funeral ceremonies for dead hunters. There is
one ceremony held seven days after the death,
In the days of the Mali another 40 days after, and a commemorative ceremony every three to
Empire, some of the people seven years.
who refused to become At the funeral ceremonies, hunters march in circles and fire their
Muslims were called guns into the air. Musicians play the calabash hunters’ harps and sing
Bamana. The amulets on
this Bamana hunter’s shirt songs praising the dead person or recounting the legendary feats of
protect him from all danger. famous hunters of the past.
Under all those protective In traditional belief, when hunters go into the bush to pursue wild
medicines (boliw) the shirt game they are entering the land of potentially dangerous genies and
is woven of cotton cloth other spirits. The habits and locations of bush spirits and strategies for
called bogalan or mud cloth dealing with them are among the most important things apprentices
because the dyes used to
decorate it contain a special learn from master hunters. Genies are believed to inhabit certain kinds
kind of mud. of trees (especially the baobab), unusual rock formations, and bodies of
water. Hunters have to know how to protect themselves.
One strategy is to form alliances with genies who become pro-
tectors and guides. Master hunters carry various kinds of protective

106