The Gbara ( Bambara pronunciation: [ɡ͡baɽa] ; now spelled and pronounced as Bara or Gara in those Manding languages lacking / ɡ͡b / ) or Great Assembly was the deliberative body of the Mali Empire , which ruled much of West Africa during the Middle Ages. It was first formed in 1235 on the orders of Sundiata in the Mandinka constitution known as the Kouroukan Fouga .
9-642: The Gbara was made up of 32 members from around 29 mostly Mandinka clans. Members of these clans had aided Sundiata in his overthrow of Soumaoro Kante and were given a voice in the government of a new Manden federation, the Manden Kurufa. The descendants of these clans occupied posts in the Gbara, and checked the power of the federal emperor, the Mansa. It was presided over by a belen-tigui (or master of ceremonies) who recognized anyone who wanted to speak, including
18-474: A wide variety of information, some of which is contradictory and much that is obviously mythical. Soumaoro Kanté is portrayed as a villainous sorcerer-king in the national epic of Mali, the Epic of Sundiata . After his defeat at Kirina, he flees into the mountains of Koulikoro , where he "disappears" after being shot with the only weapon to which he is vulnerable - an arrow with a white rooster spur arrowhead. In
27-435: Is viewed as one of the true champions of Traditional African religion due to his reputation in the epic as someone possessing extraordinary magical powers. According to Fyle, Soumaoro was the inventor of the balafon and the dan (a four-string guitar used by the hunters and griots). As evidence of his supernatural powers, the griot Lansine Diabate notes, "At that time, owing to his magical powers, every fly which rested on
36-558: The Epic of Sundiata , Soumaoro Kanté is described as owning a balafon with magical powers, which is stolen by Sundiata Keita's djeli , Balafasseke Kouyate , and brought to Manden . This is the origin of the Manden djeli tradition of balafon playing. The balafon of Soumaoro Kanté is said to be kept by the Kouyate family to this day in the village of Niagassola in Guinea . Soumaoro
45-662: The Mandinka people in what is now Mali . However, the Mandinka prince Sundiata Keita built a coalition of smaller kingdoms to oppose him at the Battle of Kirina (c. 1235. ), defeating the Sosso and leaving Sundiata's new Mali Empire dominant in the region. Whether or not any of the deeds attributed to him actually happened as such, or even whether Kante existed at all, is debated by historians. Traditional oral histories provide
54-602: The Faith'), clans responsible for traditional African religion teaching and advice, are: The 7 Nyamakala ('Wielders of Nyama, the power of life/creative force), clans responsible for products, are: Soumaoro Kante Soumaoro Kanté (also known as Sumaworo Kanté or Sumanguru Kanté ) was a 13th-century king of the Sosso people. Seizing Koumbi Saleh , the capital of the recently defunct Ghana Empire , Soumaoro Kanté proceeded to conquer several neighboring states, including
63-526: The Mansa. The Gbara was divided into four voting blocs divided among military, political, religious and economic lines. The Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro (sometimes cited as the Ton-Ta-Jon ), meaning carriers of quivers, were the military wing of the Gbara, responsible for leading the army and sometimes governing provinces ( tinkurus ) or counties ( kafos ). The purely political bloc of the Gbara was the clans of Maghan (literally 'Princely Clans'). This group included
72-401: The imperial clans and related clans that could also ascend to the throne. The constitution of the empire also included religious (that is traditional African religion ) clans serving as marabouts (or Islamic guides to the nobility). This group also functioned as diviners able to interpret omens and other happenings. Lastly, there were the clans of Nyamakala ('wielders of Nyama'). Nyama is
81-472: The power or energy that flows within and between everything, and its skilled manipulation is necessary to perform certain functions, especially smithing or serving as a chronicler/bard/griot (jeli / djeli). The 16 Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro ('Carriers of Quivers') clans responsible for defense, and the descendants of Sundiata Keita's generals and best soldiers, are: The 4 Maghan (Princely) clans, responsible for leadership, are: The 5 Mori-Kanda-Lolou ('Guardians of
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