caa a22 4500 467934371 CHVBK 20180406152952.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170328e20060601xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10900-005-9011-3 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10900-005-9011-3 Beliefs and practices concerning twins, hermaphrodites, and albinos among the Bamana and Maninka of Mali [Elektronische Daten] [Gavin Imperato, Pascal Imperato] The Bamana and Maninka of Mali greatly value twins, and have elaborated a range of cultural beliefs and practices to assure their survival. Rates of twinning among these two ethnic groups average from 15.2/1000 to 17.9/1000 births compared to 10.5/1000 births (without assisted reproduction) in the United States and Great Britain. Twins (flaniw) are regarded as extraordinary beings with unusual powers, and as a gift from the supreme deity. A small altar (sinzin) is maintained in the home of twins, and periodic sacrifices of chicken blood, kola nuts, millet paste and millet beer regularly made to assure their protection. Albinos (yéfeguéw) and true and pseudo-hermaphrodites (tyétémousotéw) are also considered twin beings. However, they are believed to be the result of aberrant parental social behavior. The Bamana and Maninka believe that all four groups (twins, albinos, hermaphrodites, and pseudo-harmaphrodites) are closely linked to Faro, an androgynous supernatural being who provides equilibrium in the world. Faro is the original albino and hermaphrodite who gave birth to the first pair of twins after self-impregnation. Whenever a twin dies, a small wooden statue is sculpted called a flanitokélé (twin that remains). This commemorative figure is kept close to the surviving twin, reflecting a belief in the inseparability of twins. Eventually, the surviving twin takes responsibility for the figure. When a surviving twin marries, another figure is often sculpted in the opposite sex from the deceased twin, and placed with the original sculpture. Such commemorative sculptures are not created upon the death of those who are albinos, hermaphrodites, or pseudo-hermaphrodites. In recent years, transformational belief patterns have evolved as increasing numbers of Bamana and Maninka embrace Islam. Traditional beliefs are often given Islamic myths of origin. However, even in this Islamic context, many practices that assure twin survival are maintained. Springer Science+Business Media, Inc., 2006 Bamana and Maninka twins nationallicence albinos nationallicence hermaphrodites nationallicence pseudo-hermaphrodites nationallicence Imperato Gavin Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 43, 11203, Brooklyn, NY, USA aut Imperato Pascal Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 43, 11203, Brooklyn, NY, USA aut Journal of Community Health Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 31/3(2006-06-01), 198-224 0094-5145 31:3<198 2006 31 10900 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-005-9011-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-005-9011-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Imperato Gavin Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 43, 11203, Brooklyn, NY, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Imperato Pascal Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 43, 11203, Brooklyn, NY, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Journal of Community Health Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 31/3(2006-06-01), 198-224 0094-5145 31:3<198 2006 31 10900 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer