Info For Y'all Bidek People: Senegal`S Mountainous Cave-Living Semi-Nomadic People

The Bedik (Budik or Bedick) people are ancient cave-living agrarian minority Tenda-Menik  speaking people occupying the most isolated expanse of eastern Senegal,  Arrondissement of Bandafassi. Bedik people lives apart from society. They alive inward caves carved inward the mountains, frequently without light.
Bedik adult woman with porcupine ringlet through her olfactory organ , Iwol , Bedik hamlet , Bassari province , Senegal

One seldom meets a Bedik inward political meetings or other pop gatherings. On the other hand, many Bedik bring together the army. Being accustomed to mountainous environment, they excel at climbing cliffs together with walking long distances without getting tired.

                   Bedik elders welcoming guests with offering of drinks. By stayinggroundedontherun

The Peuls (Fulani) refer to them equally the Tanda-Bande who beak Tendanke.

                                           Bedik adult woman preparing food
Language
Bedik people speak Menik, a Tenda language (of Senegambian language) which belongs to the bigger Niger–Congo family of Africa. Manik comes from their give-and-take for dolerite, from which they develop their houses (much similar the Bassaris).
the most isolated expanse of eastern Senegal Info For You BIDEK  PEOPLE: SENEGAL`S MOUNTAINOUS CAVE-LIVING SEMI-NOMADIC PEOPLE
Bedik adult woman with porcupine ringlet through her nose, Iwol, Bedik village, Bassari country, Senegal | © Ariadne Van Zandbergen

Menik: an endangered linguistic communication betwixt ii large languages
Bedikpeople together with alive inward the midst of Peulh together with Malinké, the ii principal ethnics inward this region. Approximately at that topographic point are 35 languages inward Senegal some of them are large similar (Wolof, Peulh ,Serere..) together with the little ones include (Menik, Bassari, Konyagi…). In the acquaint political province of affairs the regime codified every language; nevertheless none of these languages are taught at school.
the most isolated expanse of eastern Senegal Info For You BIDEK  PEOPLE: SENEGAL`S MOUNTAINOUS CAVE-LIVING SEMI-NOMADIC PEOPLE
Bedik adult woman with porcupine ringlet through her olfactory organ with baby, Iwol, Bedik village, Bassari country, Senegal | © Ariadne Van Zandbergen

Two types of bilingualism are observed inward this area:
- the showtime bilingualism is necessary for their social together with economical integration inward their cohabitation with the ii large languages (Peulh together with Malinké), therefore each Bedik should beak Peulh together with Malinké following to their ain language
- The instant bilingualism observed inward this expanse concerns the native linguistic communication together with French. This is non necessary, for instance a large let on of the populations who alive at that topographic point are illiterate, together with French is used solely inward the shape or inward the administration.
Often inward the multilingualism combat European languages are opposed past times African languages. Nevertheless nosotros should depository fiscal establishment notation that this multilingualism tin constitute a danger for some languages that are called endangered. It is known that linguistic modify is frequently caused past times the social mutation. And the social contact is accompanied past times an abandonment of the native language. Two things assist the Bedik to save their language:
- the showtime strategy is to oblige the immature to beak his ain native linguistic communication inward the hamlet the sometime persons should create all they tin to encourage the immature to beak their language.

- the instant strategy is the sacredness of festivities. These ceremonies are done inward Menik, the speech communication of tribal chief, the sacred texts, together with songs are inward Menik
- the in conclusion strategy is the threat of existence expelled from the community. The Bedik beak Menik inward monastic tell to fully choose purpose inward the life of society
Initiated Bedik girl

History
Bedik people migrated from ancient Republic of Mali empire. Their ancestors are the families Keita together with Camera that came from Republic of Mali because of the War led past times Alpha Yaye coming from Fouta Djalon. The ancestral hamlet of Andeul was showtime settled atop the steep plateau past times the Camara family.
the most isolated expanse of eastern Senegal Info For You BIDEK  PEOPLE: SENEGAL`S MOUNTAINOUS CAVE-LIVING SEMI-NOMADIC PEOPLE
                    A few historic hut foundations at the ancestral Bedik hamlet of Andeul

Above all, they wished to maintain their animist organized religious belief together with avoid capture past times slave raiders together with warriors, especially those led past times the Peul ruler Alpha Yaya from the mountainous Fouta Djallon to the south. The Camara solid unit of measurement chose the specific spot of the hamlet to relish the shade of a imperial baobab tree. Upon finding the tree filled with bees, the Camara sacrificed 7 people to purchase the protection of these creatures—an alliance that proved invaluable for repelling Alpha Yaya together with his warriors when they attempted to scale the mountain.

                           Bedik initiate wearing mask. By stayinggroundedontherun

Since then, the hamlet has grown to include ii to a greater extent than families—the Kanté together with the Keita. The Kanté originally lived inward caves on the side past times side mount where they worked equally blacksmiths. When the Camara solid unit of measurement became tired of hiking so far to purchase their atomic let on 26 tools, they ultimately invited the Kanté to alive at Andeul where they maintain to operate atomic let on 26 together with brand other crafts such equally pottery. The Kanté also supervise rituals such equally initiation ceremonies that maintain to be amongst the adoption of Catholicism. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 human being of the Keita solid unit of measurement showtime arrived from the neighboring hamlet of Iwol later likewise many of his children had died (from sorcery?). Recognizing the ability together with wisdom of this man, the Camara together with Kanté families naturally invited him to go their chief. In his humility, however, the showtime Keita invited his blood brother from Iwol to come upwards together with dominion over the village. Hence the Keita remain the chiefs of Andeul today despite the primacy of the Camara solid unit of measurement together with the economical together with ritual ability of the Kanté.

   Bedik tribe boys running though their hamlet of Iwol, Senegal equally purpose of their 6-month initiation into manhood.
 Whatever hold out the case, Bedik only similar their bassari neighbours inward the Bassari county, positioned themselves on the mountain-tops to escape from state of war equally good equally preventing slave raiders from capturing their people.
The Bedik divide themselves into 3 groups: the Biwol, the Banapas, together with the Nyolo.

 However, the 3 groups together total solely 1,500 speakers. The Biwol together with the Banapas alive inward the regions similar a shot to the due west together with due north of Kedougou respectively. The Nyolo reside inward the middle together with a piffling to the northwest, forming a triangle betwixt them. The Biwol stand upwards for the largest grouping of the three, followed past times the Banapas together with finally, the Nyolo.

                                               Bedik man,Senegal

The 3 groups are semi-nomadic, inward that they consider themselves inhabitants of a hamlet which is to a greater extent than or less centrally located to their given area. During planting together with harvesting seasons they alive inward temporary "encampments" (i.e., huts made of woven bamboo) inward the surrounding area. The Biwol state they are from Iwol, spell the Banapas state they are from Bantata, together with the Nyolo state they are from Oussonkala (a hamlet abandoned for some years now).

                                       Bedik settlement

The argue behind this segmentation into 3 groups is non clear. Few linguistic differences tin hold out institute betwixt them. Apparently the Nyolo were i people with the Biwol, but during a state of war against the Peuls, they fled to cover inward the mountains to the due north together with receive got been at that topographic point ever since.
Bedik girl

In fact, i argue cited past times the Bedik for continuing to alive on the plateaus long later the abolition of slave-raiding is to protect their crops from errant Peul livestock.

                                           Bedik woman

Economy
The Bedik people were traditional hunter-gatherers.  However, they are at nowadays engaged inward semi-nomadic economy. The maintain livestock such equally goats, chicken together with cattle. The Bedik farm the crude oil terrain atop the plateaus.

    Cattle graze, surrounded past times huts inward the middle of the Bedik tribe hamlet of Iwol, Senegal.
Although many Bedik, who let on solely a few thousand, receive got begun to motility downward from the plateaus to post their children to schoolhouse together with cultivate to a greater extent than land, their villages remain of import cultural centers late added to the UNESCO World Heritage List including ethnic Bassari villages to the due west together with historic Peul villages to the due south or so Dindefello.

                         Bedik cattle, Iwol, Senegal

Bidek Socio-politcal construction together with culture
Bedik girls' unique pilus styles are characterized past times i large plait on plough over of the caput together with several little plaits on the side.

 Bedik hairstyling, Iwol, southeast Senegal (West Africa), Circa 1981.by John Atherton 
         
Aluminum rings together with multicolored pearls adorn the plaits. Their ears are pierced with several holes, together with each hole carries a band of diverse colors. The olfactory organ is also pierced together with decorated with a porcupine pin. On each wrist a immature lady wears at to the lowest degree v bracelets.
Bedik adult woman washing

The boys also apparel distinctive adornment. Once circumcised, each man child begins to apparel an earring together with a knife at his waist. They claim the knife is non for defense, but equally a working tool.

                                       Bedik initiation ceremony,Senegal

If a Bedik man child loves a immature girl, he must obtain a kola nut, a calabash, together with a handmade textile ii meters long together with convey all these things to the girl's family. If the immature lady together with her solid unit of measurement are non interested, they volition render everything inward a pair of hours. However, if the solid unit of measurement keeps the presents, this agency that the immature lady loves him, too.

 The man child at nowadays has to develop a dowry for his time to come in-laws: $50, i cow, i sheep, together with i goat. Once accepted past times the girl's family, the marriage ceremony volition unite the ii families together with also the ii villages. The bridegroom provides plenty millet vino to satisfy all who attend. After the wedding, the girl's solid unit of measurement volition go dorsum domicile together with go out their immature lady with her hubby "for better, for worse".

The Bedik people consume mainly nutrient based on millet accompanied past times leaves from a baobab tree. They seldom exercise oil inward their food. Rice is prepared when at that topographic point are visitors.
Bedik women pounding leaves

 Visitors are e'er served separately. The Bedik people rarely exercise saccharide inward their food. They enhance poultry, sheep together with goats, but they sell them rather than using them for their ain consumption.
Bedik woman

The Bedik people quaff millet wine, especially inward times of ceremonies, similar weddings. They also quaff bissap, a quaff based on sorrel flowers. They set hot pepper inward it, together with quaff it without sugar.
The Bedik people are really respectful to their elders. Birthright is strictly respected. In Bedik society, the elders are e'er given showtime priority.
When hunters render with their game, for example, they give the elderberry showtime selection earlier sharing the game with the others.
During hamlet meetings, the men sit down past times historic catamenia groups. No beau would hold out bold plenty to sit down downward amongst the elders.

                                       Bedik compound

Religious belief
The Bedik people traditionally believe inward dialants, a heap of little stones close a wall or tree, where sacrifices are made together with prayers are said regularly.

                Bedik children sitting inward front end of Dialants (Bedik god)

Few Bediks are Muslim. When asked why, they respond that the main argue is the dominant presence of Fulbe people inward Islam.

The Bedik together with Fulbe peoples create non agree, because the cows, the sheep, together with the goats of the Fulbe graze inward together with trample the fields of the Bedik farmers. Consequently, most of the Bedik people decline Islam together with are to a greater extent than opened upwards to Christianity.

                               Bedik traditional shrine priest
Bedik woman. by stayinggroundedontherun

Bedik Mask
Carol Beckwith is a lensman who has spent much of her life documenting the traditions of Africa.
"The Bedik masks receive got a marvelous, nigh elephant-like, tree fiber face. Surrounding this are mayhap a thou leaves that are attached onto a large trunk costume, so what you're seeing looks similar a bush coming out of the sacred forest."

                             Bedik tribe initiate inward a mask. by stayinggroundedontherun

According to the Bedik people, the sacred wood is the domicile of these spiritual masks, who come upwards out of the wood to bless the crops. The members of the clandestine masking societies are the solely ones allowed to go inward the mystical groves where the masks dwell.
Bedik man child initiate drinking brewed portion. by stayinggroundedontherun

"Their role is to go inward all of the houses, to go into every nook together with cranny of the village, together with brand certain that at that topographic point is nix evil or negative that could acquit on inward a bad way the agricultural action that's shortly to choose place."


                            BEDIK PEOPLE DANCING

SOURCE:http://www-01.sil.org/silesr/2007/silesr2007-011.pdf
                 http://camerongokee.info/weblog/
                 http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10755&rog3=SG

             AMAZING BIDEK PEOPLE

Young Bedik girl,Senegal


Bedik adult woman with olfactory organ piercing inward Bassari Mountains,Senegal

A Bedik immature lady wearing traditional beadwork, necklaces, together with earrings inward the hamlet of Iwol, Senegal, Africa.









Bidek together with Bassari girls


















the most isolated expanse of eastern Senegal Info For You BIDEK  PEOPLE: SENEGAL`S MOUNTAINOUS CAVE-LIVING SEMI-NOMADIC PEOPLE
SENEGAL. Tambacounda Region (Bassari Country) Bédik "Village Iwol" Daughter of porcupine quills inward his ear.

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