The Gbara (; now spelled and pronounced as ''Bara'' or ''Gara'' in those

Manding languages The Manding languages (sometimes spelt Manden) are a dialect continuum within the Niger–Congo languages, Niger-Congo family spoken in West Africa. Varieties of Manding are generally considered (among native speakers) to be mutually intelligible ...

lacking ) or Great Assembly was the deliberative body of the

Mali Empire The Mali Empire (Manding languages, Manding: ''Mandé''Ki-Zerbo, Joseph: ''UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. IV, Abridged Edition: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century'', p. 57. University of California Press, 1997. or ''Manden ...

, which ruled much of West Africa during the Middle Ages. It was first formed in 1235 on the orders of Sundiata in the Mandinka constitution known as the Kouroukan Fouga.

Function

The Gbara was made up of 32 members from around 29 mostly Mandinka clans.
p.2 Members of these clans had aided Sundiata in his overthrow of Soumaoro Kante and were given a voice in the government of a new Manden federation, the Manden Kurufa. The descendants of these clans occupied posts in the Gbara, and checked the power of the federal emperor, the Mansa. It was presided over by a belen-tigui (or master of ceremonies) who recognized anyone who wanted to speak, including the Mansa. The first Gbara decreed that the Emperor comes from the line of Sundiata, while the Princess are mandated to take a wife from the Conde clan.

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 quivers, 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 (that is

traditional African religion The beliefs and practices of African people are highly diverse, and include various ethnic religions.Encyclopedia of African Religion (Sage, 2009) Molefi Kete Asante Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural and are passed do ...

Fage, J. D, ''The Cambridge History of Africa: From c. 1050 to c. 1600'' (eds J. D. Fage, Roland Anthony Oliver), p. 390,

Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...

, 1977, .Badru, Pade, ''The Spread of Islam in West Africa: colonization, globalization, and the emergence of fundamentalism'', pp. 100-102, Edwin Mellen Press, 2006, .Collins, Robert O., & James McDonald, ''A History of Sub-Saharan Africa'', p. 84,

, 2007, .) 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'' is the power or energy that flows within and between everything, and its skilled manipulation is necessary to perform certain functions, especially smithing or serving as a chronicler/bard/griot (jeli / djeli). The 16 ''Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro'' ('Carriers of Quivers') clans responsible for defense, and the descendants of Sundiata Keita's generals and best soldiers, are: * Dansouba * Diaby (Jab(b)y) * Diakité ( Jakite) * Diallo ( Jallow) * Diawara (

Jawara Jawara is the English transcription of a surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form ...

) * Fofana * Kamara ( Camara) * Kamissoko * Koita * Kondé (the clan of the Sankar-Zouma) * Koroma * Magassouba * Sako * Sangaré (Sankareh) * Sidibé * Traoré ( Trawore/ Trawally) The 4 Maghan (Princely) clans, responsible for leadership, are: *Danhou/Douno/Dan/ Somono/Soumano/ Mano (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/ Krubally/ Kora) The 5 ''Mori-Kanda-Lolou'' ('Guardians of the Faith'), clans responsible for

teaching and advice, are: * Bérété *

Cissé Cissé is a common West African name of Soninke origin, and the meaning of Cissé is the white horse in the same language. Cahiers d'études africaines 2006 "Le nom Cissé au Mali fait partie des noms de famille maraboutiques, tout comme Touré qu ...

( Ceesay/ Sesay) * Diané ( Janneh) * Koma * Sylla ( Sillah) The 7 ''Nyamakala'' ('Wielders of Nyama, the power of life/creative force), clans responsible for products, are: * Diabate (Jeliw / Djeliw; chroniclers and praise singers) * Kanté (Numun-Fin;

blacksmith A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from #Other metals, other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such ...

s, whose wives are often potters) * Kamara (Numun-Siaki; these men work precious metals into jewellery) * Kamara (Finè; mediators of disputes and announcers; talkers without music) * Koroma (Noumoun-Kule; these men work wood to make art) * Kouyaté (Jeliw / Djeliw of the Mansa and Belen-Tigui of the Gbara) * Sylla (''Garanke'' = 'leatherworkers' or makers of shoes, harnesses, and cushions)

Notes

{{reflist Mali Empire Historical legislatures

Function

Clans

See also

Notes