National Narratives of Mali

Studying the reactions from Fula communities in West Africa that have created narratives of their own, Narratives of Mali: Fula Communities in Times of Crisis analyzes the various narratives employed in Mali as the country faces a lasting political, social, and security crisis that threatens the country’s sense of identity.

---

Mali is often depicted as a successor state of the Ancient Mali Empire. Since 2012, a lasting political, social, and security crisis has engulfed the country. Non-state armed groups, community militias, and fundamental Islamist fighters, have been wreaking havoc in a state that was praised for its diversity and religious tolerance. Amidst these violent conflicts, various narratives have been employed to mobilize support for Mali. These narratives have not prevented the rise of community-centered strategies for survival. Fula, the largest West African community, has often been associated with narratives related to violent conflict. Subjective appropriations have fueled peacebuilding and warmongering. National Narratives of Mali: Fula Communities in Times of Crisis analyzes the narratives employed in Mali by actors in the field to justify their actions and strategies. Dougoukolo Alpha Oumar Ba Konaré studies the reactions from Fula communities that have experienced and created narratives of their own, based on their own senses of identity.