Niger Central Delta sociology in Mali: Historical look on the cohabitation among communities. Boubacar Ba, Jurist, Bamako (Mali)

On looking at people’s developed speech, there are three forms of former captives presently called Rimaybé : those who have been captured on the battle front ; those who have been sold by their masters and those who belonged to the Dina. However, there exists a slight difference between what is called Matchoubé or Maraabè on one hand and Rimaybé on the other. The Matchoubé have a master and Rimaybé don’t. This question about the role of the groups considered as descendants of captives is crucial in the Delta society. Because the Delta society is multiethnic, this has revealed a real crisis of society since Independence. Many difficulties were recorded during the first hours of the birth of the Republic of Mali. These difficulties have been recorded in the city of Mopti and many people remember the opposition among some Fulanis and Rimaybé during the revolution in Mopti, towards the end of the 1960s. The Rimaybé, shocked to hear everyday words reminding them that they are Maraabé, former captives, have brought the problem before the political and administrative authorities of Mopti in 1964. On looking at the extent of events, Rimaybé were asked to calm down and Fulanis forbidden to treat them as subhuman. A political leader at the time notified to the two groups : “The independent Mali solemnly declared being attached to the values of liberty, dignity and human being’s defense. There is no longer slavery, no longer inhuman treatment of man in Mali.” Then, human promotion follows owing to the fact that the individual redefines him/herself in the bosom of his/her group by getting rid of the prejudices which, as far as there, impeded his/her blossoming as a free individual able to enjoy all his/her human rights. Freed from this heaviness, he/she can in his/her turn free the society by educating and sensitizing his/her fellow citizens. This is how many learners have more and more an aversion for injustice and are able to intervene facing abuses by setting in motion legal and administrative mechanisms. Everything is useful to this new citizen, in a new context of democratization and decentralization. I think that it’s to this redefinition of the citizen’s place in the new society, passionate about human rights and fundamental liberties, that we will succeed in putting down the countless conflicts that do not stop breaking out in the Delta.