The role of the Jester

This image, is it allowed? Would you call it cultural appropriation? And is this still the case if the ‘proprietors’ of the figure are actually dressing you and if it’s all done in a cheerful, jolly atmosphere? The latter is exactly the idea, seen from the flyer from the photo-studio. Rather than talking of appropriation in an us/them configuration, they write: “Can we play for peace? (We) invite you to discover the liberating power of playful human encounters.”

The figure in case (the usual bearer of the gown) is the Korè Duga, a village jester from Mali. It was during the Africa day 2024 that Seydou Camara told us all about them. The school for the Korè Duga exists since time immemorial, he explained. And the role of the Korè Duga is to connect to people and to execute playful mediation. He has the capacity to dance and “their wisdom lies in shamelessly playing with societal norms in order to solve disagreements through humor and laughter.” Important values are harmony, tolerance and modesty. As you see in the picture: they are generally poor and this is shown by the fact that they pick up pieces of cloth from the streets to dress themselves.

Camara, artistic director of Yamarou Photo, has made pictures of these figures and hung them in the streets of Bamako. Thus, they create discussion and rally support for traditions like these. Valérie Schuit (Eyewonder doclab) also stimulates these and similar forms of democracy.

Michael Eze, Dr.Phil, Ph.D., finally, a specialist in African philosophy, put the whole story in its larger context. What does it mean to be a citizen in Africa?, he asked. Can Africa build on its own instruments of democracy, how can Africa reclaim its arbitrary state? He left us with intriguing remarks like these: “The monopoly of violence with the state may work in Europe, because there are strong institutions to push back in case it’s necessary. We don’t have these in Africa. Instead of monopoly of violence, we need collaborative negotiation between the state and its citizens.”

Thank you for the introduction to yet another amazing form of African indigenous wisdom! And for all those working in Africa, do you acknowledge the role and importance of the jester in your organization? Do you truly listen to its feedback and support its role in conflict resolution? Look around you and think about it…

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