The Gbara or Great Assembly in Old Malinke (now spelled and prounounced as Bara or Gara in those Manding languages without /gb/) was the deliberative body of the Mali Empire

Mali Empire

The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...

, which ruled much of West Africa during the Middle Ages. It was first formed in 1235 on the orders of Sundiata

Sundiata

Sundiata is a given name or surname, and may refer to:* Ibrahim K. Sundiata, American historian* Sekou Sundiata, African-American poet and performer* Sundiata Acoli , African-American prisoner...

 in the Mandinka

Mandinka people

The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....

 constitution known as the Kouroukan Fouga

Kouroukan Fouga

The Kouroukan Fouga or Kurukan Fuga is purported to be the constitution of the Mali Empire , created after the Battle of Krina by an assembly of notables to create a government for the newly established empire. It was first alluded to in print in Djibril Tamsir Niane's book, Soundjata, ou la...

.

Function

The Gbara was made up of 32 members from around 29 mostly Mandinka clans. Members of these clans had aided Sundiata in his overthrow of Soumaoro Kante and were given a voice in the government of the new Manden Federation or Manden Kurufa. The descendants of these clans occupied post in the Gbara and checked the emperor's (mansa's) power. It was presided over by a belen-tigui (master of ceremonies) who recognized anyone who wanted to speak including the mansa.

Clans

The Gbara was divided into four voting blocs divided among military, political, religious and economic lines. The Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro (sometimes cited as the Ton-Ta-Jon), meaning carriers of quiver, were the military wing of the Gbara responsible for leading the army and sometimes governing provinces (tinkurus) or counties (kafos). The purely political bloc of the Gbara was the clans of Maghan (literally 'Princely Clans'). This group included the imperial clans and related clans that could also ascend to the throne. The constitution of the empire also included religious clans serving as marabouts or Islamic guides to the nobility. This group also functioned as diviners able to interpret omens and other happenings. Lastly there were the clans of Nyamakala ('wielders of Nyama'). Nyama was an occult power believed necessary to perform certain economic functions especially smithing or serving as a chronicler/bard/griot (jeli / djeli).

The 16 Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro ('Carriers of Quiver') clans responsible for defense, and the descendants of Sundiata Keita's generals and best soldiers:

• Dansouba
• Diaby (Jab(b)y)
• Diakité (Jakite)
• Diallo (Jallow)
• Diawara (Jawara)
• Fofana
• Kamara (Camara)
• Kamissoko
• Koita
• Kondé (the clan of the Sankar-Zouma)
• Koroma
• Magassouba
• Sako
• Sangaré
• Sidibé
• Traoré (Trawore)

The 4 Maghan (Princely) clans responsible for leadership:

• Danhou/Douno/Somono/Soumano (the clan of the Dyi-Tigi or "master of waters" responsible for river travel and fishing)
• Keita (the clan of the mansas)
• Konaté
• Koulibaly (Coulibaly)

The 5 Mori-Kanda-Lolou ('Guardians of the Faith') clans responsible for Islamic teaching and advice:

• Bérété
• Cissé (Ceesay)
• Diané (Janneh)
• Koma
• Sylla (Sillah)

The 7 Nyamakala ('Wielders of Nyama, the occult power or life/creative force) clans responsible for products:

• Diabate (Jeliw / Djeliw; chroniclers and praise singers)
• Kanté (Numun-Fin; blacksmiths whose wives are often potters)
• Kamara (Numun-Siaki; these men work precious metals into jewels)
• Kamara (Finè; mediators of disputes and announcers; talkers without music)
• Koroma (Noumoun-Kule; these men work wood to make art)
• Kouyate (Jeliw / Djeliw of the Mansa and Belen-Tigui at Gbara)
• Sylla (Garanke = 'leatherworkers' or makers of shoes, harnesses, and cushions)