Proclaimed In Kouroukan Fouga In 1236 A.D
Published In Academia By : Chizoro Okeke
Kouroukan Fouga Indigenous Constitution of Ancient Mali – Translated from French to English. According to the Epic of Sundiata, Kouroukan Fouga or Kurukan Fuga was the constitution of the Mali Empire created after the Battle of Krina (1235) by an assembly of nobles to create a government for the newly established empire. According to oral traditions of the griot or poets of Mali and Guinea, the Kouroukan Fouga established the federation of Mandinka clans under one government, outlined how it would operate and established the laws by which the people would live. The name Kurukan Fuga is a toponym, translating to “clearing on granite / lateritic rock”, referring to the plain near the town of Ka-ba (present day Kangaba) where the narrative has it where Sundiata Keita presented the Charter or Constitution after consultation with the wise men.
This document was as important for that region of Africa as the Magna Carta for Western Europe and formed about the same-time,as the Kouroukan Fouga. However, it was formally in oral tradition and then codified in about 1236 the same time as of the Magna Carta in 1215.
Most people would have recognized the Magna Carta as having a great impact on the eventual idea that Man is a free being with formal representation in governing council. That idea would take centuries to realize, of course, and many found it as a precursor to the US constitution and the parliamentary system in Britain. In the Mali empire, a similar document was being put into place.
The reconstructed Kouroukan Fouga, as published by Kouyaté, contains 44 edicts. They are divided into four sections concerned with Social Organization (edicts 1-30), Property Rights (edicts 31-36), Environmental Protection (edicts 37-39) and Personal Responsibilities (edicts 40-44).
The Kouroukan Fouga divided the new empire into ruling clans (lineages) that were represented at a great assembly called the Gbara. There were 16 clans known as the Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro (quiver carriers) responsible for leading and defending the empire. There were also 4 clans known as the Mori-Kanda-Lolou (guardians of the faith) who guided the ruling clans in matters of law. There were 4 nyamakala clans (people of specialist skills) who had the monopoly on certain trades, which included, but was not limited to, smelting, woodworking, and tanners. Lastly, there were 4 clans of djeli (masters of speech) who recorded the history of the empire through song.
Combined these would make up the 29 seat Gbara at the plain of Kouroukan Fougan (named after the event where Sundiata “divided the world”). The 30th seat was likely occupied by the mansa’s djeli called the belen-tigui (master of ceremonies), or may have been reserved for a female monitor since the constitution stated that, women are to be represented at all levels of government (edict 16).
Article 7 institutes the sanankuya (a type of cousinage or joking relationship that is a
long standing West African social tradition) as a civic duty
Kouyaté in his commentary draws attention to paragraph 20, dealing with the humane treatment of slaves.
Social Organization
Article 2: The “nyamakalas” must devote themselves to tell the truth to the chiefs, to betheir counsellors and to defend by the speech the established rulers and the order uponthe whole territory.
Article 4: The society is divided into age groups. Those born during a period of three years in succession belong to the same age-group. The members of the intermediary class between young and old people, should be invited to take part in the making of important decisions concerning the society.
Article 6: To win the battle of prosperity, the general system of supervision has been established to fight against laziness and idleness.
Article 7: The sanankunya (joking relationship) and the tanamannyonya (blood pact) have been established among the Mandinka. Consequently any contention that occurs among these groups should not degenerate, the respect for one another being the rule. Between brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, between grandparents and grandchildren,tolerance should be the principle.
Article 8: The Keïta family is nominated reigning family upon the empire.
Article 9: Children’s education behooves the entire society. The paternal authority inconsequence falls to everyone.
Article 10: We should offer condolences mutually.
Article 11: When your wife or your child runs away, stop running after them in the neighbour’s house.
Very impressive, interesting.