Mali (Le Mali)
Description: Mali
Image copyright: http://mali.pwnet.org/img/mali_map_small.jpg
Islam is the main religion with 90% of the inhabitants being Muslims, 9% of the population have indigenous beliefs and 1% is Christian. The population is made of many ethnic groups. The official language of Mali is French. Many African languages are spoken in Mali, including Bambara.
Malians work in agriculture, services, industry and business. In the rural areas, where 90% of the people live, they are occupied with farming, which takes up a lot of their time (5-6 months). During the off season of farming, many of these people go to the city to find a better job. When people come to live in the city for the off season they end up liking it and staying. This causes an over population problem in the cities which in turn increases the crime rates.
Malians love to have a good time and dance, not only at festivals but anytime they are in the mood to. In Mali, it is considered shameful for anyone other than a griot to sing. Before the advent of writing, the griots were storytellers who used music to recount stories. Refer to the link about Sibri Samanka and Malian singing group. Arts and crafts are very important in Malians' life. They love to make wood carvings, brass carvings, wicker creations, mud cloth fabric designs, bead bracelets, and gold jewelry.
Mali is also well known for its genuine mud cloth with hand-painted designs using the traditional methods which have been passed down for many centuries. The cloth is first woven, and then a design is painted on by hand using natural ingredients. This cloth is then dipped into specially prepared dyes made with mud, left to dry and then often dipped again. The process may take several weeks from start to finish.
The food in Mali is similar to what is found in Senegal and other areas in West Africa. Along the Niger River they have fish dishes which are very popular. They include Nile perch (or capitaine) which is either fried or grilled, stewed or baked. Also, the main foods eaten by a moderately well-off family living in Mali’s capital, Bamako, are rice, millet, sorghum, and beans, cooked as a sort of porridge, served with a meat or fish sauce. A common meal in southern Mali is called tô, a pudding made from pounded millet, served with a sauce of meat or vegetables. In the North, the Songhay and Touareg make thick doughy pancakes served with wild leaves. Girls learn to cook from their mothers at a very young age. Malian cuisine varies from region to region, but does not offer a great deal of choice. Most meals are based on a kind of porridge with a sauce.
