User:Hk5183/Wa Kamissoko

Wa Kamissoko (Krina, Mali, 1925 - Dankan Koroni, Guinea, 1976) was a Malian Traditional griot.

Biography
Born to a community of traditional griots trusted to keep alive the memory of the Battle of Kirina and of the Mali Empire which was founded there, he gained a deep understanding of the oral tradition of the Mandinka people.

Following his April, 1957 meeting with the Malian Ethnographer Youssouf Tata Cissé, the two became great friends, Wa décidant de devenir le griot attitré de Y. T. Cissé.

Having become aware of the erudition of « his » griot, Youssouf Tata Cissé decided to undertake, with him, a systematic exploration of the Mandinka tradition, beginning with that of the Mali Empire. This collaboration enabled him to gain a significantly deepened knowledge of the history of Africa's great empires and of the great Mandinka epic poems such as the Epic of Sundiata.

In January 1975 and February 1976, he participated in conversations on the oral tradition held in Bamako by the Foundation SCOA for the promotion of Scientific Research in Black Africa (today, ARSAN) where he was asked about various subjects by a panel of historians and africanists of all backgrounds.

The name Wa Kamissoko was given to one of the halls of the palace of Congress in Bamako.

Works
Wa Kamissoko could not read or write. His recitations were recorded by Youssouf Tata Cissé, qui les recoupa d'une part entre eux et d'autre part avec ceux d'autres traditionalistes, afin d'en dégager les constantes.


 * La grande geste du Mali, 2000, Karthala-ARSAN ISBN 2865372065
 * Soundiata ou la gloire du Mali, 1991, Karthala-ARSAN ISBN 2-811-10261-2.

Colloques de Bamako

 * Actes du premier colloque de Bamako de 1975, 1975, ARSAN ;
 * Actes du deuxième colloque de Bamako de 1976, 1977, ARSAN.

Articles connexes

 * Kouroukan Fouga
 * Mali Empire