Concept of mтgтya in Manden proverbs

Abstract

The article is devoted to one of the central concepts of mutual relations between Manden people — mтgтya — humanity as people’s characteristic. Each people have a concept characterising the basic quality (qualities), valued in the society and, as a rule, such concepts are difficult to translate. In this article the author tries to penetrate into the essence of such concept by means of the analysis of bamana proverbs. Value of a person in the Manden society, as well as in all collectivist societies, is defined by a value for a group of people, instead of its personal achievements. Therefore, the concept mɔgɔya includes a concept of priority of society over an individual, intercommunication of people, and their interdependency. In accordance with mтgтya, people mutual relations are based on unity, debt, understanding, mind and reciprocity. Understanding of such concepts as mтgтya is a key to understanding of many processes in a modern Manden society. Refs 10. Figs 1.

Keywords:

oral tradition, proverbs, worldview, Manding people