Occupational Castes 79Th e Nyaxamalo became known as the Nyamakala
among the Mandenka or Mandingo whose social divisions
are:- Horon (Nobles)
- Nyamakala (Occupational Castes)
a. jeli/jeliyu (historians/musicians/singers)
b. numu (blacksmiths/woodcarvers)
c. garanke (leatherworkers/weavers)
d. fune/fi nah (Islamic praise singers) - Djon (Slaves)
Also known as “the people of talent,” the nyaxamalo and
nyamakala represent the occupational castes and were once
highly respected for the indispensable skills and knowledge
they contributed to the building and functioning of the so-
ciety. Th eir eminent status gradually deteriorated, fi rst, dur-
ing the Age of Violence, the Islamic jihads of the late 18th
and 19th centuries, and defi nitively with the compounding
of European colonialism that subverted the preexisting po-
litical economy and modes of production. Th e slave class
was eliminated under colonialism, but the occupational
castes no longer enjoyed the prestige and esteem they were
formerly accorded; they were relegated instead to a lowly
status in the eyes of the nobles, though they were still feared
for their extraordinary powers of nyama.
Nyama in Mandenka signifi es “vital force,” a spiritual
energy that has the power to exact uncontrollable vengeance
on a victim. Kala means “handle” or “antidote.” People of
talent are believed to be the possessors of an abundance of
nyama who also have the ability to manipulate and control
the nyama, thus they are called nyamakala.
Th e griots, masters of the nyama in the word, can honor
or disgrace a person with their eloquent manipulation of
speech. Th ey were advisors to the king, mediators in na-
tional and international disputes, ambassadors, offi ciators
of rites of passage ceremonies, historians, social and cul-
tural anthropologists, philosophers, musicians, composers,
singers. Blacksmiths and woodcarvers mastered the nyama
of fi re, metal, and wood; the leatherworkers controlled the
nyama of animal hide, and so forth.
Occupational castes spread throughout West Africa
with the migrations and political and cultural infl uence of
the Mandenka and Soninke peoples. Th e nomadic Fula/
Fulani and the Tukulor who initially had no occupational
castes adopted the Mandenka caste system as late as the 17th
century. Ethnic groups who branched from the Soninke andBibliography
Martin, Bernard, and Mark Spurrell, eds. The Journal of a
Slave Trader (John Newton), 1 750– 1 754. London: Epworth,
1962.
Newton, John. Th e Works of the Reverend John Newton, with a Life
of the Author by R. Cecil. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1854.
Occupational Castes
Occupational castes are specialized groups of skilled artists
and artisans found within the hierarchal social structure
of several West African ethnic groups. Originating in the
empire of Ghana/Wagadu among the Soninke people, oc-
cupational castes emerged when individuals with special-
ized skills, who, in attempting to safeguard and perpetuate
those skills among family members, formed endogamous
marriage relationships with people of the same occupation.
Not to be confused with the caste system in India that des-
ignates hundreds of castes from the highest to the lowest
outcaste in accordance with their lineages, the occupational
castes of Africa comprise one distinct group of usually four
or fi ve skilled occupations. While draconian rules and pro-
scriptions oft en limit the freedom and human rights of the
lower castes within the religious-based Hindu caste system,
the occupational castes of Africa are totally free and have
the same rights as other citizens.
Th ere are, however, certain restrictive taboos asso-
ciated with occupational castes: they are not allowed to
marry outside of their caste, and in some cases there are
specially prescribed funeral rites held only for caste groups.
For example, in the past, the griot (historian/musician)
caste could only be buried inside the trunks of trees, and
although they may exert a tremendous infl uence on the
political authorities, they are never permitted to be heads
of state.
Th e Soninke social hierarchy is divided into three major
branches:
- Horro/Horon (Nobles)
- Nyaxamalo (Occupational Castes)
a. gesere (historians/musicians/singers)
b. tage(blacksmiths)
c. garanke (leatherworkers)
d. sake (woodcarvers) - Komo (Slaves)