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Cultural Space of Sosso-Bala



Known as the Sosso-Bala, the sacred balafon instrument has been considered to embody the freedom and unity of the Mandingue people, who reside across a territory that once belonged to the Empire of Mali. According to the legend, the balafon was once owned and played by King Sumaoro Kanté, who succeeded to the Sosso throne in the early thirteenth century. It was passed down through the centuries through epic poems such as the Sunjata epic which tells the glory of the builder of the Mali empire. Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali empire 800 years ago, is said to have appointed Kouyaté's family to safeguard the balafon. Since that time, every male relative has been taught to play what is considered a sacred instrument.

This instrument is a type of xylophone and is about 1.5 meters in length. There are 20 slats carefully cut into different lengths, each with several calabashes underneath. Several manuscripts and oral histories say that the balafon was either manufactured by the King himself or given to him by a genie. The original Sosso-Bala is kept in a round mud hut in Nyagassola, the village in northern Guinea in which the Dökala family lives. The Balatigui, the patriarch of the Dökala family, is the one authorized to play the instrument at significant times. This includes the festival of the Muslim New Year and when someone is buried. The Balatigui is the guardian of the instrument. He is the only person permitted to perform on significant occasions. It is the responsibility of the Balatigui to teach the Balafon to children from the age of seven onwards. Many of the songs played with the Balafon are not simply for entertainment, but are also related to war and the happy celebration of victory.

The Sosso Bala has evolved from being a tool of oppression in the hands of a tyrant to be a tool of cultural healing and unity under Sunjata Keita and his griot. The Mande people have used it for years as a symbol of their unity and freedom. Over the past few years, the Balatigui and other members of the Dökala family, who are hereditary musicians, have worked to pass on this knowledge and skill to future practitioners. In addition to being a national treasure in Guinea, the over 800-year-old instrument represents the glorious past of the Mande peoples. Today, the African tradition of playing the balafon plays an important part in preserving their cultural identity. However, the progressive reduction in the number of pupils due to rural migration is perceived as the main threat to this tradition. In addition, the fragile infrastructure and the challenging living conditions in Nyagassola have also contributed to the crisis.

References

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