Yalunka people
Encyclopedia
The Yalunka are a Mande people who were one of the original inhabitants of the Futa Jallon (or Fouta Djallon), a mountainous region in Guinea
, West Africa
and they are a branch of the Mandinka people
of West Africa
. Today, the Yalunka(Jallonke) are concentrated mostly in Guinea and Sierra Leone
. Most of the Mandinka in both Guinea and Sierra Leone are considered ethnic Mandinka primarily because of the similarities in costume and languages.
Small communities also live in Senegal
and Mali
. The Yalunka are also known as the Dialonke or Jallonke, which literally means "inhabitants of the Jallon (mountains)." In the 18th century, many of the Yalunka(Jallonke) were dispersed from the Futa Jallon by the Fulani, another vast people group in the region. Most of the Mandinka in
Their language, also called Yalunka, belongs to the Mande branch of the Niger–Congo language family. Yalunka is partially understood by those who speak Susu
, another Mande language. In fact, the Yalunka often refer to themselves as the ancestors of the Soso, and some scholars see the two as one group. The Yalunka region has tall grass with a few trees and some bush areas. The country is hilly, and most of it is 1,000 to 2,000 feet above sea level.
Among the Yalunka(Jallonke), herding is done by the children. The women milk the cattle, churn the butter, and help the men in some of the agricultural work. Honey is another important commodity among the Yalunka. It is gathered by suspending large water tight baskets in trees. The bees use the baskets as hives. Every year, between four and six gallons of honey may be gathered in each basket.
for the Yalunka. Extended households, which consist of two or more married men and their families, may also adjoin the nuclear family, forming an extended family compound. The Yalunka live in round huts that have brick walls and cone-shaped, straw-thatched roofs. Within the village or settlement, the huts are grouped in compounds around a courtyard and are surrounded by a fence.
Polygyny
(having multiple wives) is a common practice among the Yalunka. Marriages among Yalunka are traditionally arranged. According to Islamic law
, a man may have up to four wives. However, his first wife has authority over any subsequent wives. The husband has complete control over his wives and is responsible for feeding and clothing them. He also helps the wives' parents when necessary. The wives' duties include maintaining the house, preparing the meals, washing the clothes, and helping with the farm work. When a man dies, one of his brothers traditionally marries his wife or wives so that the children remain in the family.
. Although they follow most of the religious teachings of Islam
and observe its rituals and ceremonies, some of their pre-Islamic beliefs still persist. For instance, they make sacrifices to ancestors to gain power referred to as Barinkiina. They also employ charms for personal power and have family-owned objects of power known as Suxurena which require sacrifices. They also continue to believe in Nyinanna, or "nature spirits," and sacrifices are regularly made to them. Some of the Nyinanna are said to be good spirits, helping with rice production and fertility in women; others are believed to be evil, living in the bush and stealing children from their parents. The more powerful spirits are called Yinnana.
The Yalunka also believe that witches, referred to as "night people" or Kweramuxuna, have the power to change into animals and cause harm to the villagers by eating their souls at night. Some put curses on victims' houses to ruin their crops. Special rituals are performed by diviners or sorcerers to keep the witches and evil Nyinanna away from farms and households.
Their devotion to Islam and fear of persecution
have prevented all but a few Yalunka from converting to Christianity
.
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and they are a branch of the Mandinka people
Mandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. Today, the Yalunka(Jallonke) are concentrated mostly in Guinea and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. Most of the Mandinka in both Guinea and Sierra Leone are considered ethnic Mandinka primarily because of the similarities in costume and languages.
Small communities also live in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and 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 Yalunka are also known as the Dialonke or Jallonke, which literally means "inhabitants of the Jallon (mountains)." In the 18th century, many of the Yalunka(Jallonke) were dispersed from the Futa Jallon by the Fulani, another vast people group in the region. Most of the Mandinka in
Their language, also called Yalunka, belongs to the Mande branch of the Niger–Congo language family. Yalunka is partially understood by those who speak Susu
Susu language
Sosoxui is the language of the Soso people of Guinea, West Africa. It is in the Mande language family.It is one of the national languages of Guinea and spoken mainly in the coastal region of the country. The language was also used by people in present-day Guinea as a trade language.e.g...
, another Mande language. In fact, the Yalunka often refer to themselves as the ancestors of the Soso, and some scholars see the two as one group. The Yalunka region has tall grass with a few trees and some bush areas. The country is hilly, and most of it is 1,000 to 2,000 feet above sea level.
Settlements
Most Yalunka(Jallonke) settlements are located in the valleys between the hills. Since the 1950s, many Yalunka have migrated to cities . In recent times, many Fulani and Maninka have moved into the Yalunka region, creating a multi-cultural environment.Economy
The Yalunka(Jallonke) are primarily subsistence farmers, with rice and millet being their staple crops. Peanuts, sweet potatoes, maize, and beans are also grown. Chickens, herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep and goats are kept. Animals such as goats and cattle are also very important because they serve as bride-price payments. The animals are given to the girl's family before the marriage takes place. These animals are also valuable as a means of economic exchange, and are used for providing milk.Among the Yalunka(Jallonke), herding is done by the children. The women milk the cattle, churn the butter, and help the men in some of the agricultural work. Honey is another important commodity among the Yalunka. It is gathered by suspending large water tight baskets in trees. The bees use the baskets as hives. Every year, between four and six gallons of honey may be gathered in each basket.
Costume and culture
The Yalunka(Jallonke) prefer to live in large settlements and villages as opposed to small ones. Many of the large settlements have remained in their current locations since the 18th century. The Yalunka society is basically patriarchal, which means that the family households are headed by the men. A household typically consists of a man, his wife or wives, and their unmarried children. The family is the major social unitSocial unit
Social unit is a term used in sociology, anthropology, ethnology, and also in animal behaviour studies, zoology and biology to describe a social entity which is part of and participates in a larger social group or society....
for the Yalunka. Extended households, which consist of two or more married men and their families, may also adjoin the nuclear family, forming an extended family compound. The Yalunka live in round huts that have brick walls and cone-shaped, straw-thatched roofs. Within the village or settlement, the huts are grouped in compounds around a courtyard and are surrounded by a fence.
Polygyny
Polygyny
Polygyny is a form of marriage in which a man has two or more wives at the same time. In countries where the practice is illegal, the man is referred to as a bigamist or a polygamist...
(having multiple wives) is a common practice among the Yalunka. Marriages among Yalunka are traditionally arranged. According to Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
, a man may have up to four wives. However, his first wife has authority over any subsequent wives. The husband has complete control over his wives and is responsible for feeding and clothing them. He also helps the wives' parents when necessary. The wives' duties include maintaining the house, preparing the meals, washing the clothes, and helping with the farm work. When a man dies, one of his brothers traditionally marries his wife or wives so that the children remain in the family.
Religion and traditional beliefs
The Yalunka are 99% MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. Although they follow most of the religious teachings of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and observe its rituals and ceremonies, some of their pre-Islamic beliefs still persist. For instance, they make sacrifices to ancestors to gain power referred to as Barinkiina. They also employ charms for personal power and have family-owned objects of power known as Suxurena which require sacrifices. They also continue to believe in Nyinanna, or "nature spirits," and sacrifices are regularly made to them. Some of the Nyinanna are said to be good spirits, helping with rice production and fertility in women; others are believed to be evil, living in the bush and stealing children from their parents. The more powerful spirits are called Yinnana.
The Yalunka also believe that witches, referred to as "night people" or Kweramuxuna, have the power to change into animals and cause harm to the villagers by eating their souls at night. Some put curses on victims' houses to ruin their crops. Special rituals are performed by diviners or sorcerers to keep the witches and evil Nyinanna away from farms and households.
Their devotion to Islam and fear of persecution
Persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
have prevented all but a few Yalunka from converting to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
External links
- http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=110950&rog3=ML