Sortie du Kankourang : l’arrêté préfectoral qui fache la communauté mandingue
The Mandingo community of Mbour expressed its deep disappointment following the prefectural decree authorizing the organization of the Kankourang, a ceremony classified as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO since 2008, by individuals who are not guarantors of tradition. The prefect allowed uninitiated individuals to organize their ceremony, much to the dismay of the Mandingo community office.
The secretary general of the Mandingo community said he "received the prefect's decision with great bitterness."
"I immediately called the prefect to acknowledge receipt, but also to express my disappointment," he said, recalling that the administrative authority "remains solely competent to enforce laws and regulations."
What the Secretary General is particularly critical of is having been invited to participate in a committee whose opinion was simply ignored.
"If we had known that the final decision would go against our recommendations, we would have refrained from appointing representatives. We do not want to be a foil," he said.
While reaffirming their commitment to respecting republican legality, they announced that the Council of Elders will soon issue an official opinion on the matter.
For two years, the Mandingo community has been mobilizing against what it calls the "trivialization, folklorization, and desecration" of the Kankourang. For them, this ceremony is not just a spectacle:
"The Kankourang is not just a Sunday outing. Behind it, there are the leuls, with songs, teachings and an esoteric dimension that can only be transmitted by initiates," explains Mr. Diop.
He denounces the recent proliferation of ceremonies organized by young, uninitiated people.
"How can 35-year-old boys claim to lead leuls when, despite being over 70 years old, some of us still don't have access to it?" he asks.
The Mandingo community recalls that Kankourang was introduced to Mbour in 1904 and that it was always managed exclusively by the Mandingos until 2023, before the proliferation of parallel practices.
"Our responsibility, entrusted to us by our ancestors and recognized by UNESCO, is to preserve the authenticity of Kankourang for generations to come," says Mamadou Aidara Diop.
Commentaires (4)
Merci beaucoup le prefet ! la liberté d'association et d'organisation est garantie par la constitution !
Des profitards qui n attendent que se moment pour de remplir les proches Au lieu d Aller travailler
La communauté mandingue de Mbour a vendu sa culture depuis LOOONGTEMPS. Si tu as de l'argent, tu peux tout obtenir de cette communauté. Ils ne croient qu'à l'argent.
Beaucoup sont devenus "Sélbés" juste parce qu'ils ont de l'argent.
Les Paa Ibrahima Faye aujourd'hui décédé, Khadim Tabet, Malick Camara Ndiaye, Sarr Moussa et bien d'autres sont entrés dans la communauté socé par la porte de l'argent. C'est ça la Vérité.
Alors laissez Paa Cissé faire tranquillement son Kangkourang. Il est plus socé que vous.
Nous attendons avec impatience la sortie du Kangkourang.
Coach Titan, Zackaria, Laye Ndiaye, Max Sonko 🤣😂😂😂🤣
un heritage se conserve,un prefet doit absolument connaitre la base culturelle de sa ville des son implantation.
sa decision est une insulte a la communaute.
Aidara depose un recours et qu;une marche pacifique soit organisee.
Ils sauront la portee derriere cet engoument. Mandinka ya Alamouta.
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