Aux sources de l'histoire du pays soninké : le cas du Kingi (Mali)

In his book "La graine de la parole...", the subject of this paper, Mamadou Diawara discusses the various types (wether from families or specialists) of historical oral traditions in the Kingi state from the 15th till the mid 19th century. He relates these traditions' socio-political functions to social changes, and analyzes the more or less formal ways in which they have been transmitted. Emphasis is laid on the roles of women and slaves.