Bakari Sumano

Bakari Sumano

Bakari Sumano (1935 - July 21, 2003) was head of Malian association of griots (wandering poet-musicians) from 1994 until his death.

Bakari Sumano left school in 1955 to become a mechanic's apprentice, but continued to take night classes in history and typing. In 1957, he received a position at the Social Security Office. He went on a career at the National Institute of Social Providence, where he became the principle inspector and regional director of Kayes, Gao, Mopti, Koulikoro, and Bamako before his 1997 retirement.

Along with his administrative career, Sumano also assumed the functions of a griot. In 1994, he became head of the Association of Griots of Mali and dedicated himself to restoring the griots (who he preferred to call "jeli") to a prominent role in Malian life.

He began courtesy visits to foreign heads of state visiting Mali and won recognition for the Association of Griots in the protocol list of the Republic in many official ceremonies. He also began accompanying the family of Niaré, founders of Bamako, to the mosque for the Tabaski prayer. Finally, he put in place official ceremonies for the naming of head griots in different cities, such as San and Naréna.

Increasingly famous, Sumano acted as a consultant for UNESCO and participated in many seminars and colloquia on Malian traditions in African, European, and American universities.

According to Sumano, "The griot has a knowledge of the sociology and anthropology of this country, the whole of oral tradition. He cultivates it by his performances every day, on all occasions. He tries to maintain living values, he has the function of an educator."

References

*This article is based on a translation of the corresponding article from the French Wikipedia, retrieved on July 12 2005.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Griot — This article is about the West African poets. For the rapper, see Griot (rapper). Senegalese Wolof griot, 1890 …   Wikipedia

  • List of Malians — is a list of people notable to Mali or notable for being from Mali.Academics and WritersAcademics*Sidibé Aminata Diallocholars of Sankore MadrasahScholars wrote their own books as part of a socioeconomic model. Students were charged with copying… …   Wikipedia

  • Griot — en traje de fiesta (1890). Un griot o jeli (djeli o djéli en francés) es un narrador de historias de África Occidental. El griot cuenta la Historia de la forma que lo haría un poeta, un cantante de alabanzas o un músico vagabundo. Un griot es un… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”