Cɛya minɛn vs ton

Language / Langue Bambara/Jula-English
1

Coleman, the way that I understand this meaning of ‘cɛya minɛn’ is very similar to my understanding of one of the meanings of ‘ton’… what we call a ‘mojo bag’. What are your thoughts?

2

I think that it’s likely or often similar, but I think that tón may have a particularly strong connotation for some people (or in some areas) that could be slightly different from cɛya minɛn. The Bamadaba dictionary, for instance, speaks of a variety of meanings associated with war:

  • quiver
  • warrior’s knapsack

I primarily knew of ton as quiver, for instance, and hadn’t heard of the usage (“talisman bag”) that you offered in the proverb that you posted recently until I read it there.

The specific meaning or association with terms like this can vary widely in different Manding-speaking regions, and I imagine it might be the case here too.

Maybe you can formulate a more specific question could help others chime in with their sense of things?

Alternatively, you might want to look into various tales and epics to see when and where the different terms pop up :slight_smile:

1 Like
3

Does anyone know if ‘cɛya minɛn’ is the same, or similar, in definitions to those of tón listed in the Bamadaba dictionary, i.e., talisman bag and warrior’s/hunter’s pouch?

Tón:

  1. quivers, quivers and arrows. (ancient weapons)

  2. talisman bag (from Bambara on a journey (container and contents, in particular the protective fetish))

  3. warrior’s/hunter’s pouch (weapons and bags (of soldiers on campaign, hunters: fetishes and gris-gris were part of it))

  4. fetish