Sanankuya
Encyclopedia
Sanankuya refers to a social characteristic present especially among the Mande
peoples of Mali
, as well as many West African societies in general, often described in English with terms such as "cousinage", "joking relationship
", etc..
In addition to sanankuya relationships that are pre-established between certain ethnic or professional clans, a sanankuya relationship can also be established between any two willing participants who have "broken the ice". Those in a sanankuya relationship may treat one another as if cousins or close family members with whom familiar jokes or humorous insults are exchanged. This is considered an essential element of Mande / West African society, and was reputedly ordained as a civic duty in the Kurukan Fuga, the oral Constitution of the Mali Empire
, by Sundiata Keita
in c. 1236.
The effects of this complex and longstanding custom on West African society may also be seen surviving in African American culture
in such cultural institutions as "the Dozens
", as well as the custom of non-blood relatives according each other the status of familial relationships (i.e. 'play' aunts, cousins, etc.).
For an example, the Traoré
and Koné
clans each maintain a sanankuya relationship with the others' members, and one of the biggest running jokes is that each clan will accuse the other of loving to eat beans the most.
Mande
Mande may refer to:* Mandé peoples of western Africa* Mande languages* Manding, a term covering a subgroup of Mande peoples, and sometimes used for one of them, Mandinka* Garo people of northeastern India and northern Bangladesh...
peoples of Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, as well as many West African societies in general, often described in English with terms such as "cousinage", "joking relationship
Joking relationship
A joking relationship is a term applied by anthropologists to the institutionalised form of interaction between certain pairs of people in some societies. Analysed by British social anthropologist Alfred Radcliffe-Brown in 1940, it describes a kind of ritualised banter that takes place, for example...
", etc..
In addition to sanankuya relationships that are pre-established between certain ethnic or professional clans, a sanankuya relationship can also be established between any two willing participants who have "broken the ice". Those in a sanankuya relationship may treat one another as if cousins or close family members with whom familiar jokes or humorous insults are exchanged. This is considered an essential element of Mande / West African society, and was reputedly ordained as a civic duty in the Kurukan Fuga, the oral Constitution 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...
, by Sundiata Keita
Sundiata Keita
Sundiata Keita, Sundjata Keyita, Mari Djata I or just Sundiata was the founder of the Mali Empire and celebrated as a hero of the Malinke people of West Africa in the semi-historical Epic of Sundiata....
in c. 1236.
The effects of this complex and longstanding custom on West African society may also be seen surviving in African American culture
African American culture
African-American culture, also known as black culture, in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of Americans of African descent to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from American culture. The distinct identity of African-American culture is rooted in...
in such cultural institutions as "the Dozens
The dozens
The Dozens is a game that has its origins in African American slavery. The game originates from the devaluing and bargaining off of deformed or defective slaves in auction houses. This element of the African American oral tradition in which two competitors, usually males, go head-to-head in a...
", as well as the custom of non-blood relatives according each other the status of familial relationships (i.e. 'play' aunts, cousins, etc.).
For an example, the Traoré
Traoré
Traoré or Traore is a surname of Malian origin.A number of famous and prominent people have the surname Traoré:Politics*Aminata Traoré , Malian politician*Babemba Traoré, King of the Kénédougou Empire...
and Koné
Koné
Koné is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Koné is the provincial seat of the North Province....
clans each maintain a sanankuya relationship with the others' members, and one of the biggest running jokes is that each clan will accuse the other of loving to eat beans the most.