2007年VOA标准英语-Mandinka Spirit Plays Traditional Role in West

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
07 September 2007

In southern Senegal and the Gambia, home to the Mandinka ethnic¹ group, the rainy season also brings the appearance of the Kankuran, a man who takes on the role of an age-old spirit and guardian² of the Mandinka people. He stalks the streets of Mandinka settlements during weddings and periods of circumcision, frightening away evil spirits and residents alike. Naomi Schwarz reports from Dakar on the terrifying but celebrated³ appearance of the Kankuran this year in Kolda, southern Senegal, with additional reporting by Alpha Jallow on site.

The spirit kankuran scares and protects

The Kankuran comes from the bush, cloaked in leaves, his body painted in vegetable dyes. He wears an intimidating⁴ mask, made of bark and red fibers⁵ from an oak-like tree called the Faare. He has come to fulfill⁶ his traditional role of protecting the people.

As he emerges from the bush for the first time this year, he is celebrated by the Mandinka residents of Kolda. They follow behind him, dancing and singing, but they do not get close.

According to Mandinka tradition, a large gathering⁷ is sure to entice⁸ evil spirits. The Kankuran brandishes⁹ two large swords that he strikes together to scare away the evil spirits. And if that does not work, he chases them away with beatings.

The Mandinka know if the Kankuran finds them in the midst of a festive¹⁰ get together, he might mistake them for a spirit, and then they'll get the beating.

This explains the mixed message of the song these young boys sing. The boys sing, "You are our protector, do not harm us."

Circumcised boys are protected by the kankuran

These boys are between four and eight years old and have just been circumcised. This makes them susceptible¹¹ to evil spirits, says Mandinka elder Vieux Mané.

Mane says the Kankuran always comes for a specific reason, either a circumcision or a wedding.

When the boys sing, the Kankuran hears and comes directly.

Although frightened, the boys must stay put and let the Kankuran play his role.

Playing that role is not for the faint of heart, says Abdul Sané, another Mandinka elder.

Sané says that in southern Senegal, members of the Sané or Mané family usually play the role, because, he says, those families are thought to be brave and understand the Kankuran's supernatural powers.

But for the man behind the mask and the Mandinka people he stalks, the rewards are believed to be great.

Aida Touré, a young woman in Kolda, says she was married for five years and was unable to have children. She says her husband secretly went to the Kankuran and asked him to beat her.

Tradition holds that if a childless woman is symbolically¹² beaten by the Kankuran, she will conceive before his next appearance.

Toure is now the proud mother of a two-year-old son. She says she advises any childless woman to try the same method.

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

5 fibers   

光纤( fiber的名词复数 )； （织物的）质地； 纤维，纤维物质

参考例句：

• Thesolution of collagen-PVA was wet spined with the sodium sulfate as coagulant and collagen-PVA composite fibers were prepared. 在此基础上，以硫酸钠为凝固剂，对胶原-PVA共混溶液进行湿法纺丝，制备了胶原-PVA复合纤维。
• Sympathetic fibers are distributed to all regions of the heart. 交感神经纤维分布于心脏的所有部分。

6 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

8 entice   

v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿

参考例句：

• Nothing will entice the children from television.没有任何东西能把孩子们从电视机前诱开。
• I don't see why the English should want to entice us away from our native land.我不明白，为什英国人要引诱我们离开自己的国土。

9 brandishes   

v.挥舞( brandish的第三人称单数 )；炫耀

参考例句：

• He never brandishes his intellect. 他从不炫耀自己有多聪明。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She brandishes twin blaster pistols in a pair of hip holsters. 她喜欢在头上戴一朵大红花。 来自互联网

10 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

11 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

12 symbolically   

ad.象征地，象征性地

参考例句：

• By wearing the ring on the third finger of the left hand, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. 将婚戒戴在左手的第三只手指上，意味着夫妻双方象征性地宣告他们的爱情天长地久，他们定能白头偕老。
• Symbolically, he coughed to clear his throat. 周经理象征地咳一声无谓的嗽，清清嗓子。