Sanké mon is celebrated on the second Thursday of the seventh lunar month in the town of San in the region of Segou in Mali, western Africa. The events commemorate the foundation of the town more than six centuries ago, and it traditionally marks the beginning of the rainy season. The communities of Malinnké, Mabmara, and Buwa are involved in the collective fishing ritual.
A rite is initiated by the sacrifice of roosters, goats, and offerings made by local residents to the spirits of the Sanké lake; collective fishing is then performed over a period of fifteen hours using large and small mesh fishing nets. This is followed by a masked dance on the public square featuring Buwa dancers from San and neighboring villages who dance to the beats of a variety of drums in traditional costumes. Traditional fishing is a widespread practice throughout the region, but Sanké mon is unique in that it brings together different communities and their diaspora to participate in collective fishing. Thus, Sanké mon rite reinforces social cohesion by demonstrating the religious tolerance of the region - the different ethnic groups have their own beliefs -and exemplifies ethnic unity through a celebration of diversity.
Although Sanké mon collective fishing ritual still happens every year around the same time, its intensity is waning. The level of interest from the inhabitants of San has decreased as a result of a lack of knowledge about the history of the event as well as its significance for the local economy and social cohesion. Various founding myths have been abandoned and replaced by newer practices of the younger generation. Due to inadequate attention to the older aspects of the collective fishing rite of Sanké mon, traditions are now at risk. Several measures have been taken or will be taken to protect the collective fishery of Sanké mon. In 2001, Mali inscribed the collective fishery of Sanké mon on its national heritage inventory. The National Directorate for Cultural Heritage provides financial support to the town of San and helps organize the Sanké mon festivities.
A future safeguard strategy would include the rehabilitation of Sanké Lake through the cleaning of the waterways obstructed by the impacts of human settlements; the establishment of a management system equipped with materials and supplies to bring together various stakeholders; and the establishment of a natural resource management plan. There are several other strategies for the conserving of Sankè mon, including creating a database to compile existing documentation on Sanké mon from libraries and document centers; awareness-raising sessions in San to inform the local populations about the importance of safeguarding the rite; distributing information on activities on radio stations and other media, and showcasing the importance of conserving and promoting the practice.
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