By Adama Kone, Teacher & Health Projects Coordinator
Mali is home to many traditions, especially in rural areas. Some of the traditions are disappearing in bigger towns but they live on in villages. Visiting a village in Mali allows people from other countries to learn many of these traditions, but even Malians who have lived in big towns for long time may be reminded of many traditions.
For example, it is very common to see large, rustic public benches in villages while visiting. They are mostly used by elders.. They are not simple benches because younger people of the village usually make them as a team. Some young people are selected to each bring a large piece of wood to contribute. Then, the young people pick a date when to build the bench as a team.
Once the bench is set or ready, the elders of the village usually come and chat on it every evening. When elders are chatting, it is very rare to see young people among them because they feel ashamed to sit among elders and listen to their conversions all the time. Elders would share secrets of the village and discuss their personal issues.
However, young people who are interested in learning from elders would sometimes come to the benches too. Some young people think elders have magical secrets and that can help them fix many problems in life like making them lucky, helping them get rich, or protect them from being harmed by demons or being unfortunate. The old man bench is usually put either in the middle of the village or just outside it.
In this photo, we are in Zambougou, which is home to Mali Rising’s Denik Middle School. A couple of old men are sitting on the bench. They enjoy relaxing there, and sharing their personal news with each other. This bench is also by the paved road where they can sit and watch cars passing very often.
Sometimes important decisions are made by elders as they sit on the bench under trees. Then everyone will have to comply with those decisions. In some villages, it is like the palace for the chief of the villages, meaning that once he leaves his house he comes to the old man bench. His assistants are free to come with him and chat, but at that point, young people are too afraid to chat with them because of shyness or being respectful to the elders. In some villages, public events are hosted in the spot and the whole village is free to come on those occasions to enjoy it.
In this photo, Lamber Samaké, sitting next to the man with white pants, is part of the elders in Zambougou. He is also the school committee president at Denik Middle School. He enjoys chatting with his fellow elders on the bench under trees whenever he feels free. When they are tired, they sometimes come there and rest or even take naps. Most of them think taking naps on the bench is more restful than in their real houses since the bench is usually quieter then their busy homes.
