Kamablon also known as the house of speech, is Kangaba's sacred hut. In the village of Kangaba, the Malinke and other peoples of the Manden region of southwest Mali celebrate when a new thatch roof is installed on the Kamablon every seven years.
Kangaba's distinctive Kamablon is located in Manden, it was built in 1653. Its circular construction, 4 meters in diameter, is made of earth, with a bench, and a thatched roof. It houses objects and furnishings of high importance to the community as well as serves as a village senate. It is surrounded by three cheesemongers trees, also the wasi, and the tomb of Mansa Sèmè. According to Unesco, it would be the last kamablon of the cultural area of Manden. All of these elements acquire a sacred character in the Mandén culture, particularly among the griots of the Diabaté clan. It serves as a village council or senate and is filled with precious and symbolic furniture and objects. Kamablon's history is kept by members of the Keita clan - the descendants of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita - and griots with the patronym Diabate, who also organize the ceremony.
Under the supervision and guidance of elders from the nearby village of Kela, young people about 20 or 21 years of age remove the old roof and put in a new one under the supervision of older men. During this ceremony, griots from Kela pay tribute to Sundiata and recount stories of the Manden region and its construction, history, and symbolic value. Throughout the re-roofing ceremony, the opportunity is provided to strengthen social ties, settle conflicts, and predict what will happen over the next seven years.
As a result, repairing the Kamablon is a ritual event with high importance and a high level of significance for the Mali Empire in the region of Manded. During this ritual, oral traditions are proclaimed and sung, transmitting the oral history of the Mali Empire to its modern-day descendants in the region. It also consecrates the reunification of the family and clan members around the Kamablon, a powerful symbol of their cultural identity.
Currently, the community of Kangaba and the national authorities have worked to safeguard this valuable resource, putting in place legislation and an awareness program to ensure knowledge and know-how are passed on to future generations. However, the sacred hut at Kamablon is an example of how the Malinké culture is still deeply rooted in a culture based on its history and traditions.
References
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/septennial-re-roofing-ceremony-of-the-kamablon-sacred-house-of-kangaba-00190) (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamablon_de_Kangaba) (https://www.diasporaction.fr/le-l-kamablon-r-a-un-nouveau-toit-pour-7ans/) |Subject=Belief, Music, Ritual |Country=Mali |SDG=(11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions }}