Vocabulary from West Africa

Ancient Mali (MAH-lee)

Bogolanfini (Bo-ho-lahn-FEE-nee), also seen as Bogolan - mudcloth used for painting and interior design as well as clothing

Baobab (Bay-oh-bob) –a tree which its leaves were considered much prized spices.

Caravans (CAIR-uh-vans) –a long line of camels loaded with various goods to be transported across the Sahara and sold or traded in the markets.

Djelis –storyteller.  Seen also as jelis and griot.

Djenne (JEN-eh) –a rich, mighty city in Mali.  Djenne was built along the trade route.

Ghana (GA-nuh) –a kingdom built between 300 and 500.  Ghana means “warrior king”.  The modern country of Ghana is about 400 miles southeast of the ancient kingdom and was named in honor of it.

Griot (Gree-oh) -a teller of stories and singer of history; a keeper of memories and laws.  A griot is considered the teacher of kings and holder of the history.  A griot is also referred to as a djelis.

Ibn Battutta (IB-in Bah-TOO-ta) -a famous Muslim explorer who lived in Mansa Musa’s court for a month.  In his diaries he wrote detailed notes of what he saw, ate and did.  Much of what is known today of Ancient Mali is from Ibn Battutta’s diaries (Masoff, 33).

Islam (ISS-lahm) –a religion discovered in 610 by a man named Muhammad.  Muhammad’s faith traveled to Africa from what is now Saudi Arabia.  The followers of Islam are known as Muslims.

Kora -musical instrument with 21 strings, it is a cross between a guitar and a harp.  A gourd cut in half and covered with cow skin, is used as a resonator.  The musician rests the gourd against his body and plucks the strings with his thumbs and forefingers (Ayo, 61).

Koran (ka-RAN) –the holy book of Islam.   Sundiata most likely studied it and the children had to memorize the entire book (Masoff, 23) some sources say portions were memorized.

Mande (MAN-day) –Mande are a group of people that arrived and settled in the western parts of Africa about 8,000 years ago.

Mansa (MAN-suh) –one person who would rule or lead.  A mansa brought the twelve clans together and later an empire was established.

Mansa (MAN-suh) Musa – the grandson of Sudiata’s half-brother, he was Mali’s greatest king and a devout Muslim.  Mansa Musa made a hajj (hodge), a very special trip to Mecca (MEH-ka), where Muhammad, the founder of Islam had lived.

Mosque (MOSK) –place for Muslim prayer.  The mosque in Djenne is the most predominant piece of architecture in Mali, in which the Malian people still today recover it with clay keeping the traditions of the past.

Muslims –people who follow the ways of Islam.  The Mande people had their own religion, but when the dry periods came, a tale that has been passed on is that some mansas became scared enough to become Muslim and in time the rains came again and the crops thrived again.  As more and more Arab traders came to West Africa their laws and ways of doing business also came and because the mansas were practicing Muslims the other people of Mali began to follow and Islam took hold (Masoff, 19).

Niani (Nee-AH-nee) –means “Bright Country” in the Mande language.  This was a city made strong by Sundiata.

Niger river-(NIE-jher) –the best roadway in Mali, a source of water and the greatest form of transportation.

Sahara (Sa-HA-rah) –a huge desert that is three million miles in area.

Sahel (sah-HEL)-means “shore”.  Mali is considered the Sahel of the Sahara sitting on the southern “shore” of the desert.

Savannah (suh-VA-nuh) –very dry, scrubby grasslands.  Much of Mali today is considered a savannah.

Sundiata (Sun-JAH-tuh) –means “Lion Prince”.  Sundiata was the son of Sogolon (SO-guh-lawn) and a powerful mansa.  Sundiata was a wonderful mansa and well-loved.  He was kind, funny, and wise.  Other kings came to Sudiata for advice and also according to Masoff’s writings he treated both the poor and the rich the same, with respect.  This treasured king’s life ended around 1255 after fifteen year rule.  Griots have many stories of how he died:  some say he drowned, some say he possible was hit by a stray arrow at a wild party (Masoff, 27). Also seen written as Sundjata and Mari-Djata (Levtzion, 63).

Timbuktu (TIM-buck-too) –a rich, mighty city in Mali.  Timbuktu was discovered by a woman named Buktu in 1100.  She found this oasis of shade, water and cool and her little camp became known as Buktu’s well.  The word “tim” means “water well” and thus Buktu’s well became Timbuktu.  Mansa Musa’s love of books and learning made Timbuktu the city of books, along with his leadership making it the city of gold and salt.  Timbuktu is known as the “Pearl of Africa” (Masoff, 31).  Timbuktu also seen written as Timbuctoo (Felix Dubois’ book Timbuctoo the Mysterious which was translated by Diana White).

Torans (TOE-ranz) –wooden beams placed in the wet mud of a building as it is being constructed to later act as ladders to aid in repair.  Torans are seen on the mosque at Djenne.