Kalhadi (Muslim scholar) theatre puppet

The theatrical puppet (English: marionette, French: marionnette) of the maani type, with arms that move at the shoulders and elbows, animated from below by a puppeteer with strings, dances on the so-called mobile stage. It is part of the Sogo bò theatrical tradition found in the Ségou region, in the south-central Republic of Mali. There is no dialogue in Sogo bò theatre, and the puppets play their roles without words. The personality of the characters is expressed through movement. The puppeteers-animators have an arduous task, as they must lead the puppet so that the audience can clearly and correctly identify the character. Sometimes the songs and music accompanying the puppet's performance are helpful. Each puppet is usually assigned only one role. The Kalhaldi discussed here is an exception because, in his stage career, he has many different creations. He often appears as a Muslim scholar, a marabout. He also successfully plays the role of the prince of Ségou, a Baman kingdom whose heyday was in the 18th century. The Kamalen Ton members also use him to portray Ton Fa, the guardian of the association. He is also animated as Amadou Hampaté Bâ (1901-1991), an authentic figure and very important for the culture of Mali. Amadou Hampâté Bâ was a Malian writer and ethnologist. He researched and collected oral traditions. He is the author of the oft-quoted saying that when an older person dies in Africa, it is as if a whole library has burned down. He worked to unify the transcription system of African languages. In 1960, after Mali gained independence, he established l'Institut des Sciences Humaines (Institute of Humanities) in Bamako. The gift from Oleńka Darkowska-Nidzgorska and Denis Nidzgorski-Gordier.

Ewa Prądzyńska