Sissohko, Episode 2: Sungutoo

A young man envisioning his future.

The sun cracked evenly on the horizon. Bindaa morning came early today, with a little of the leftover peace from the evening — a be seli, it was perfect. He started the day by thanking Faa, Maa Kanu—God, The Great Love.

Baba Father and Mama Nene had taught him to give thanks. Every day he stepped out of the long house as a child, Mama Nene would give him a once-over — “I sungutoo lonti; Ala ni kaira! You’ve grown taller a bit; God is good!”

She’d laugh a wide laugh and embrace him by the shoulders. He didn’t understand it then, but it was her way of giving him a gift to start his day with. I am tall. I am a man! Like all good Mande mothers, Nene knew men of the tribe were crucial to the survival of the clan.

Because of their larger physical status, men protected the clan from attack and provided Suu meat. Women had a different and equal place in the tribe. Both were important. Women, by nature of their physical position, had the vital role of birthing, growing, and nurturing the clan's protection and provision.

The job of the man was long, difficult, and thankless without her. She provided a reprieve for him. After a long hunt and traveling with the donso, men would return depleted. To come back to a warm fire, tea, and soso porridge was baraka la. A blessing. Mama Nene knew that supporting her sons and husband and modeling these behaviors to other women was important.

Baba Father supported his sons in a different but equal way. He modeled the way things were to be done with his actions throughout his son’s life. He sat back and watched as he grew and said nothing. Baba Father is always there on the outskirts, watching.

We support the clan by being present and instilling confidence in our children. They’re the ones who will be leading us when we’re no longer in the position to lead.

Confidence is tricky to maneuver in modern times. We often confuse it with pride, arrogance, and hubris. We fear it because we lack it, and others may feel threatened by it if we have it. Throughout human history and pre-history, confidence was key to survival.

People had to trust themselves and their perceptions. Doubting or shaming a young person’s thoughts, senses, and perceptions would have been a sure death to the clan because individuals were not considered separate, but part of. Swift or prolonged, any actions detrimental to the clan's survival—poor parenting, harming one another, hoarding—were not tolerated.

He looked at his shadow in the morning sun. N sungutoo loñti, God is good! I’ve grown taller a bit, Ala ni kaira!

May you see a little of Sissohko in you. You’ve grown a bit, God is good!

Love,

Mama Nene