Somono

The Somono are an ethnic group in Mali. It is made up of a few tens of thousands of fishermen living around the Niger River.^[1] They are related to the Bambara people and share most of their customs.

Somono village near the river in Kankan, Guinéa. (circa 1905)

Somono woman on the banks of the River Niger(photo: Fortier).

Bozo-Somono jar (Confluences Museum).

History

Biton Coulibaly entrusted them with a war fleet to expand his kingdom in  the 18th century.

They were conquered by the Toucouleurs of Omar Saidou Tall in the 19th century.

In principle, they extended from Bamako to Dioro, but some settled in Conakry at the beginning of  the 20th century.

Language

Their language, of the same name, is a dialect of bambara.

Culture

The Somono share most of the customs of the Bambaras.

Craftsmanship

The Somono are highly skilled in pottery and canoe construction, and also traditionally master ironwork, which makes them indispensable to the Bozos.

The Somono contributed to the introduction of the drift net technique in Casamance.

Religion

The Somono adopted the Islamic traditions following their conquest by the Toucouleurs of Omar Saidou Tall.