Festivals & Events

1. Seli

   Seli (prayer; religious festival)

   Usage

   A word for prayer and for Muslim festivals

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives séli as a noun meaning prayer and festival, and as a verb meaning to pray; its example is séli bɛ́na sé (the festival is near).

2. Seliba

   Seliba (Tabaski, the feast of sacrifice)

   Usage

   The Muslim feast of sacrifice, often called Tabaski in Mali

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses séliba as Tabaski, the great festival; it is seli (festival) plus ba (big). An ka taa equates it with Eid al-Adha.

3. Selidennin

   Selidennin (feast at the end of Ramadan)

   Usage

   The celebration that ends the month of Ramadan

   Grammar Note

   An ka taa glosses selidennin as the celebration at the end of Ramadan, with the variant seli fitinin; Bamadaba lists a different word, sélininncinin.

4. Sunkalo

   Sunkalo (the month of Ramadan)

   Usage

   The Islamic month of fasting

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses súnkalo as Ramadan, the ninth lunar month; it is sún (fasting) plus kalo (month).

5. Lahiya

   Lahiya (the ram sacrificed at Tabaski)

   Usage

   The sheep offered on the day of Tabaski

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses làhiya as the sheep sacrificed at Tabaski.

6. Hiji

   Hiji (pilgrimage to Mecca)

   Usage

   The pilgrimage to Mecca; also used as a verb

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives híji as the noun pilgrimage and the verb to make the pilgrimage; An ka taa specifies Mecca.

7. Nowɛli

   Nowɛli (Christmas)

   Usage

   A French loanword for Christmas

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses nowɛli as Christmas and cites a 1986 Jɛkabaara newspaper sentence.

8. Paki

   Paki (Easter)

   Usage

   A French loanword for Easter

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses paki as Easter. Do not confuse it with the similar-looking pake (packet).

9. Fɛti

   Fɛti (feast, celebration)

   Usage

   A word from French fête for a celebration

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses fɛti as festival, with synonyms such as seli; its example is a public event in Mali.

10. Donba

    Donba (festival day)

    Usage

    A festival day or holiday

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses dónba as a day of festival; it is don (day) plus ba (big).

11. Ɲɛnajɛ

    Ɲɛnajɛ (festivity, entertainment)

    Usage

    A festivity with dancing and fun

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses ɲɛ́najɛ as rejoicing, entertainment, festival and dance; An ka taa says amusement, party, entertainment. The letter ɲ is one sound and is not written ñ or ny.

12. Furusiri

    Furusiri (wedding ceremony)

    Usage

    A word for the wedding ceremony

    Grammar Note

    An ka taa glosses furusiri as a wedding ceremony; Bamadaba lists several senses, including official marriage and a second or third wife. It is furu (marriage) plus siri (tie).

13. Denkundi

    Denkundi (naming ceremony)

    Usage

    A ceremony in which a baby is officially given a name

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses dénkundi as the baby-naming ceremony, held about a week after birth, when the child is presented and given an official name.

14. Seli bɛna se

    The festival is near

    Usage

    Say that a festival is coming soon

    Grammar Note

    This is the dictionary example séli bɛ́na sé as it stands. bɛna is the future marker and se here means arrive.

15. Desanburu kalo tile 25: o ye Nowɛli seli ye

    December 25: that is the festival of Christmas

    Usage

    Tell the date of Christmas

    Grammar Note

    A sentence quoted in the dictionary from the 1986 Jɛkabaara newspaper. "kalo tile 25" is the 25th day of the month, and "o ye X ye" is "that is X". The month name is desanburu in the dictionary.

16. Fɛti bɛ min?

    Where is the festival?

    Usage

    Ask where an event takes place

    Grammar Note

    "X bɛ min?" is the pattern for asking where X is; fɛti is glossed as festival in the dictionary. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

17. Bi ye donba ye

    Today is a festival day

    Usage

    Say that today is a holiday

    Grammar Note

    "A ye B ye" is the identity pattern, "A is B". bi (today) and dónba (festival day) are both dictionary words. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

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