Tomora
Encyclopedia
Tomora is a commune
in the Cercle of Bafoulabé
in the Kayes Region
of south-western Mali
. The principal town lies at Oussoubidiagna
, a small town with around 4,000 inhabitants. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 25,844. However, more recent reports by RACE have indicated population has declined somewhat in the 2000s to 22,914 inhabitants as a lot of villagers have emigrated to Europe. Most of the inhabitants of Tomora are Khassonké
s, with a minority of Soninke, Fulani and Malinke engaged mostly in farming.
Law No. 96 - 059/AN- RM of November 4, 1996 thirty seven villages in the Borough of Oussoubidiangna formed the current rural commune of Tomora. The management of its affairs is entrusted to a council of twenty-three members and a communal office consists of a Mayor and three assistant deputies. The mayor, currently Hamet Sissoko, and his deputies are responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the municipal council, and a prefect is chosen to represent to commune as a state representative and is responsible for advisory support to the municipal authorities.
. It is bounded on the east by the rural commune of Diallan
, north by Diakon
, south by the commune of Bafoulabé
and west by the municipality of Sidibéla
, and to the south-east by Kontéla
. Tomora is located on the foothills of the Fouta Djallon, and the commune has a topography characterized by a multitude of hills with narrow plains between them. The climate is Sahelian, typically hot, with rainfall varying from 700 to 900 mm per year with three main seasons: dry (March, April, May and June), Rainy (July-October) and cold (November-February). No permanent watercourse traverses the commune so for water the inhabitants have had to resort to drilling wells and collecting water from further afield given that there is no permanent piped water supply .
The Nando Peretti Foundation, backed with funding from the AECI (International Co-operation Spanish Agency), by the ECGO (Humanitarian Aid Office, European Commission) and private financial supporters and institutions such as the Barcelona
Provincial Council, the Catalonian Fund for Development and La Caixa Bank have been involved in improving water supply in the commune, particularly in the village of Madalaya and the surrounding villages of Tifé, Bougountinti, Mansadji, Diafan, Yahinane, Tamratinti, Bdiandiana, Gao and Diba. They have also instructed the local people to maintain the borehole pump and distribution system to obtain the best advantage of fresh water availability to provide for some 8000 people in the local area, including 1360 in Madalaya and rest in the surrounding villages. At present a yield of 40 m3 per day is supplied by 10 traditional wells, but the wells are shallow and the aquifers unfavorable, less than 20 m deep while the drill hole depths are ranging between 43 and 80 m.
However the variety of soils from gravelly or silty to sandy loam and sandy clay are suitable in many parts for agriculture. A number of plants inhabit the commune including gum
, baobab
, jujube
, Kungo sira and other thorny species and the trees are plants are often used for firewood, lumber, and for medical purposes.
, maize
, bean
s and cassava
and rely on groundnuts as cash crops. They also grow vegetables such as onion
, tomato
, okra
, eggplant, squash and peppers
. Pastoral farming is particularly important, especially for food supply and saving money for household food bills. Shea butter, monkey bread, are also produced and are also intended primarily for consumption while the wine of palmyra and raffia is a source of income for people.
Making mats and baskets is also a local custom and blacksmiths, shoemakers, potters and weavers are involved in this crafts sector. They sell their products at the weekly market in the main town of Oussoubidiagna.
missionaries. The United Bible Society in coordination with the Norwegian Protestant Mission are of major note in this respect and educated several villagers in the region in 2007 in English. On February 25, 2008 a United Bible Society/NPM convoy of seven vehicles left Bamako
to travel to Oussoubidiagna under the guidance of Jacques Dembele, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Mali and their translation correspondent, Youssouf Dembele. Most of missionaries were Norwegian
and affiliated with the Norwegian Protestant Mission. Christianity had never really reached the commune and a large crowd had gathered in the main square to greet them, including the mayor, Sissoko. Hunters and musicians and dancing girls and horses turned the visit into a celebration which is a Khassonké custom at important events. The people of Tomora slaughtered two cows and about fifteen sheep to provide a feast. The Bible Society had been responsible for spreading Christianity in the area by establishing the Khassonké New Testament, translated by those they had educated in English into the Khassonké
. The New Testament was brought in, wrapped in a large gift box and followed by a small church choir which performed Khassonké songs throughout the ceremony.
The arrival of the Bible in Tomora was attended by numerous eminent Malian Khassonké and religious figures, including Kadiatou Dembele, a member of staff of the Ministry of Primary Education, Literacy and National Languages, Oumar Cissé, a representative of the Khassonké language department at Bamako University; Abbot Urephin Somé, curate of Kakoulou
, representing the
bishop of the Kayes region, Sheik Oumar Coulibaly, the sub-prefect of Tomora and Sidibéla representing the regional governor, and Daniel Coulibaly, delegate of the Association of Evangelical Protestant Churches and Missions in Mali and the village imam, Diawoye Tamega etc.
Hamet Sissoko, the mayor of Tomora, in his speech said, “a unique day, a day of joy, a day bringing honour to all Malians, but also a day spreading the influence of a whole culture, a proud day for the Khassonké people. That which education could not achieve, that which the government should have done, has now been carried out by the Norwegian Protestant Mission, thanks to the goodwill and the love of the
Khassonké people”.
Communes of Mali
A Commune is the third level administrative unit in Mali. Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district . These subdivisions bear the name of their principal city. The regions are divided into 49 Cercles...
in the Cercle of Bafoulabé
Bafoulabé Cercle
Bafoulabé Cercle is a second level administrative subdivision of the Kayes Region in western Mali. Its capital is the commune of Bafoulabé.The Cercle contains the following Rural and Urban Communes:*Bafoulabé *Bamafele *Diakon...
in the Kayes Region
Kayes Region
Kayes Region is one of eight first level national subdivisions, called Regions in Mali. It is the first administrative area of Mali and covers an area of 120,760 km²...
of south-western Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
. The principal town lies at Oussoubidiagna
Oussoubidiagna
Oussoubidiagna is a small town and principal settlement of the commune of Tomora in the Cercle of Bafoulabé in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali....
, a small town with around 4,000 inhabitants. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 25,844. However, more recent reports by RACE have indicated population has declined somewhat in the 2000s to 22,914 inhabitants as a lot of villagers have emigrated to Europe. Most of the inhabitants of Tomora are Khassonké
Khassonké
The Khassonké are an ethnic group of Mali's Kayes Region. Descendants of the Fula and Malinké Khasso kingdoms, they speak the Khassonke/Xaasongaxango language, a Manding language similar to Bambara....
s, with a minority of Soninke, Fulani and Malinke engaged mostly in farming.
History and administration
The Borough of Oussoubidiangna was created in 1959 by merging the townships of Tomora, Sidibéla, Kontéla, Soroma and Diaye. However, byLaw No. 96 - 059/AN- RM of November 4, 1996 thirty seven villages in the Borough of Oussoubidiangna formed the current rural commune of Tomora. The management of its affairs is entrusted to a council of twenty-three members and a communal office consists of a Mayor and three assistant deputies. The mayor, currently Hamet Sissoko, and his deputies are responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the municipal council, and a prefect is chosen to represent to commune as a state representative and is responsible for advisory support to the municipal authorities.
Geography and climate
The commune of Tomora is located 100 km north of BafoulabéBafoulabé
Bafoulabé is a town and commune in south-western Mali. It is located in the Region of Kayes. Bafoulabé is the capital of the Cercle of Bafoulabé, which in 1887 was the first Cercle to be created in Mali.-Local administration:...
. It is bounded on the east by the rural commune of Diallan
Diallan
Diallan is a town and commune in the Cercle of Bafoulabé in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 10,356.-External links:*...
, north by Diakon
Diakon
Diakon is a town and commune in the Cercle of Bafoulabé in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 27,552.-External links:*...
, south by the commune of Bafoulabé
Bafoulabé
Bafoulabé is a town and commune in south-western Mali. It is located in the Region of Kayes. Bafoulabé is the capital of the Cercle of Bafoulabé, which in 1887 was the first Cercle to be created in Mali.-Local administration:...
and west by the municipality of Sidibéla
Sidibela
Sidibela is a commune in the Cercle of Bafoulabé in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali. The principal town lies at Tigana. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 6001.-Geography and climate:Sidibela is located in the northwest of Bafoulabé Cercle...
, and to the south-east by Kontéla
Kontela
Kontela is a commune in the Cercle of Bafoulabé in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali. The principal town lies at Goundara. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 17018.-External links:*...
. Tomora is located on the foothills of the Fouta Djallon, and the commune has a topography characterized by a multitude of hills with narrow plains between them. The climate is Sahelian, typically hot, with rainfall varying from 700 to 900 mm per year with three main seasons: dry (March, April, May and June), Rainy (July-October) and cold (November-February). No permanent watercourse traverses the commune so for water the inhabitants have had to resort to drilling wells and collecting water from further afield given that there is no permanent piped water supply .
The Nando Peretti Foundation, backed with funding from the AECI (International Co-operation Spanish Agency), by the ECGO (Humanitarian Aid Office, European Commission) and private financial supporters and institutions such as the Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
Provincial Council, the Catalonian Fund for Development and La Caixa Bank have been involved in improving water supply in the commune, particularly in the village of Madalaya and the surrounding villages of Tifé, Bougountinti, Mansadji, Diafan, Yahinane, Tamratinti, Bdiandiana, Gao and Diba. They have also instructed the local people to maintain the borehole pump and distribution system to obtain the best advantage of fresh water availability to provide for some 8000 people in the local area, including 1360 in Madalaya and rest in the surrounding villages. At present a yield of 40 m3 per day is supplied by 10 traditional wells, but the wells are shallow and the aquifers unfavorable, less than 20 m deep while the drill hole depths are ranging between 43 and 80 m.
However the variety of soils from gravelly or silty to sandy loam and sandy clay are suitable in many parts for agriculture. A number of plants inhabit the commune including gum
Gum
-Natural gums:* Natural gum, any of a number of naturally occurring resinous materials in vegetative species* Gum anima* Gum arabic, used as food additive, adhesive et al.* Cassia gum* Dammar gum* Gellan gum* Guar gum* Kauri gum* Locust bean gum* Spruce gum...
, baobab
Baobab
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
, jujube
Jujube
Ziziphus zizyphus , commonly called jujube , red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, used primarily as a fruiting shade tree.-Distribution:Its precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation,...
, Kungo sira and other thorny species and the trees are plants are often used for firewood, lumber, and for medical purposes.
Economy
The economy is based on agriculture, harvesting and trade and crafts. The people of Tomora farm sorghumSorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s and cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
and rely on groundnuts as cash crops. They also grow vegetables such as onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
, tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
, okra
Okra
Okra is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins...
, eggplant, squash and peppers
Capsicum
Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...
. Pastoral farming is particularly important, especially for food supply and saving money for household food bills. Shea butter, monkey bread, are also produced and are also intended primarily for consumption while the wine of palmyra and raffia is a source of income for people.
Making mats and baskets is also a local custom and blacksmiths, shoemakers, potters and weavers are involved in this crafts sector. They sell their products at the weekly market in the main town of Oussoubidiagna.
Religion
In the 2000s, the commune has been subjects to visits by ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionaries. The United Bible Society in coordination with the Norwegian Protestant Mission are of major note in this respect and educated several villagers in the region in 2007 in English. On February 25, 2008 a United Bible Society/NPM convoy of seven vehicles left Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
to travel to Oussoubidiagna under the guidance of Jacques Dembele, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Mali and their translation correspondent, Youssouf Dembele. Most of missionaries were Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and affiliated with the Norwegian Protestant Mission. Christianity had never really reached the commune and a large crowd had gathered in the main square to greet them, including the mayor, Sissoko. Hunters and musicians and dancing girls and horses turned the visit into a celebration which is a Khassonké custom at important events. The people of Tomora slaughtered two cows and about fifteen sheep to provide a feast. The Bible Society had been responsible for spreading Christianity in the area by establishing the Khassonké New Testament, translated by those they had educated in English into the Khassonké
Khassonké
The Khassonké are an ethnic group of Mali's Kayes Region. Descendants of the Fula and Malinké Khasso kingdoms, they speak the Khassonke/Xaasongaxango language, a Manding language similar to Bambara....
. The New Testament was brought in, wrapped in a large gift box and followed by a small church choir which performed Khassonké songs throughout the ceremony.
The arrival of the Bible in Tomora was attended by numerous eminent Malian Khassonké and religious figures, including Kadiatou Dembele, a member of staff of the Ministry of Primary Education, Literacy and National Languages, Oumar Cissé, a representative of the Khassonké language department at Bamako University; Abbot Urephin Somé, curate of Kakoulou
Kakoulou
Kakoulou is a small town and principal settlement of the commune of Logo in the Cercle of Kayes in the Kayes Region of south-western Mali....
, representing the
bishop of the Kayes region, Sheik Oumar Coulibaly, the sub-prefect of Tomora and Sidibéla representing the regional governor, and Daniel Coulibaly, delegate of the Association of Evangelical Protestant Churches and Missions in Mali and the village imam, Diawoye Tamega etc.
Hamet Sissoko, the mayor of Tomora, in his speech said, “a unique day, a day of joy, a day bringing honour to all Malians, but also a day spreading the influence of a whole culture, a proud day for the Khassonké people. That which education could not achieve, that which the government should have done, has now been carried out by the Norwegian Protestant Mission, thanks to the goodwill and the love of the
Khassonké people”.