Malian Names

During Pre-Service Training, for about six weeks Steve and I stayed with Malian host families. It gave us the opportunity to observe first hand the Malian way of life. One of the tasks of each of our host families was to give us our Malian name. Within the first night, Steve was pronounced 'Oumar Toure.' However, it was the first year my host family hosted a volunteer. After two or three days, I finally broke down and asked my host mother for my Malian name. My Malian mother quickly declared that my Malian name would be 'Fatim Traore.' Steve and I have grown to love our new Malian names (Oumar and Fatim). After three months of responding to my new name, it is like second nature to hear someone refer to me as Fatim.

At this point, it is a tradition for all new Mali volunteers to receive new Malian names. Our Malian names have helped us tremendously with our integration. In Mali, it is easier to remember Fatim or Oumar rather than Natalie or Steve. (The word Steve was always difficult for my host mother to pronounce.) In Mali, your last name or family name is also tremendously important. Unlike the United States, in Mali there are just over a hand full of family names. (Steve's Malian last name 'Toure' is the same as the current president ATT.) In Mali, your last name matters because it is tied to the history of your family. (For example, Toure is often a Songhrai family name whereas Traore is Bambara.) Therefore, with the utterance of your last name, a Malian will know the history of your family (perhaps your native land, native language as well as your trade).

Another interesting phenomenon with Malian last names is that certain ethnic groups (family groups) joke with certain other ethnic groups. In Mali, historically rivaling ethnic groups (family groups) have what is known as 'joking cousins' relationships with one another. 'Joking cousins' relationships are another way of lightheartedly keeping the peace. Throughout the country, all Malians know what families are joking cousins with one another. At this point instead of rivalry, joking cousins relationships are merely a fun game of witty banter between Malians. We are constantly asked for our family names. Luckily, our new Malian family names include us in this name game. (For example, Steve's family name of 'Toure' are joking cousins with the 'Maiga' family.) As soon as Steve encounters a 'Maiga,' the joking cousins argument begins as to whose family is better. Often the witty banter escalates to full out donkey or bean eating jokes, as in whose family eats more beans. (Just as in the United States, bean eating jokes are lightheartedly derogatory in that bean eaters have more gas.) Our embrace of our new Malian family names is yet another path toward integration.