General Cultural Themes of mali.ppt

General Cultural Themes of mali Mali is a country of ancient civilizations. With the succession of different Empires, the Kingdom of Mali has been a center and crossroads of different African peoples from whom we inherited our current culture. From this rich culture I will introduce some different aspects. Weddings are celebrated in 3 steps. In the morning, the official celebration is very similar to a western wedding through drumming, balafon and other celebartions/practices The Imam and witnesses celebrate the religious ceremonies at the Mosque. The wedding ends with the entry of the couple into the nuptial room Baptisms are celebrated on the 7th day after the baby is born. Early in the morning after morning prayer, a group of men will read some verses of the Koran and name the baby. The baby is always named after members or close friends of the family. Funerals - Generally men at the cemetery bury bodies while women stay at home. All family, friends and neighbors will get together for at least one week to support the family of the dead; food, money and moral presence are supplied. Rituals and Holy Places Anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Mohammed and of his baptism. Ramadan, or small feast. Tabaski, or big feast, in commemoration of Abrahams sacrifice, forty days after Ramadan, families sacrifice a sheep, people wear their best outfits, and everyone busily exchanges gifts of meat and prepared foods as a sign of solidarity. The Islamic holidays as well as Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas are officially recognized. SECULAR CELEBRATIONS Independence Day, 22 September, is a major public holiday in Mali and the occasion of parades, political speeches, and other celebrations Other public holidays include: The commemoration of the overthrow of Moussa Traoré (25 March), Armed Forces Day (20 January), Labor Day (1 May) Africa Day (25 May). In addition to the celebrations on the public calendar, there are a number of well-