"It Ain't Easy"

It’s video time again! And while this particular episode may not be quite as fun as last time’s, I hope it will give you a better glimpse of what is probably the second most oft-shown West African women’s activity (after carrying water on their heads, of course).



mmm... nyo

This is Aissata, and she is susu-ing. “Ka susu” is the Bambara word for the action of pounding things (mostly millet aka nyo) with the traditional wooden mortar and pestle. And you thought there were only those little stone ones for making guacamole… Actually, susu-ing, depending on the season and family income level, can take up a large portion of a typical Malian woman’s day – sometimes more than 4 hours. You can susu a lot of different things for a lot of different reasons – corn cobs (to remove the kernels), corn kernels (to make flour), millet stalks (to remove the grains), millet grains (to make flour), sorghum, garlic, onions, tomatoes, leaves (to make powders and spices), and even manure (to make fertilizer). The possibilities are endless, really. The mortar (“kolon”, also the word for well) and pestle (“kolon kala”) come in sizes ranging from tiny tourist trinket to a bit larger than the one lying on its side on the ground to the left in the video. Farm families grow and eat A LOT of millet, mostly in a porridge form called “tô”, which is made by adding millet powder to boiling water. Therefore, susu-ing is a daily task for many Malian women. And let me tell you, it ain’t easy. About 30 seconds is enough for me to get tired. It’s not that I’m a wuss – that kolon kala is solid heavy wood. Even Malians susu in short spurts and/or take turns. If you can get a partner (as shown), you’re really in business.

The act of susu-ing is an art form. These women have been at it a while (you know… like, probably a thousand years), so one starts to get creative. There’s the one-handed susu, which leaves the other hand free to tap the edge of the kolon, leg, susu-ing arm, and/or other objects in rhythm with the pounding of the kolon kala. Susu-ing with a partner in the same kolon or in groups with many kolons can be fun for singing songs and creating a polyrhythmic drum circle-like atmosphere. Lots of women, when alone, click their tongues or make some other sort of sound in their throats to complement the pounding of the kolon kala. And then there’s everybody’s favorite: the hand clap. The hand clap is probably the most common susu fun factor, but it takes a while to master. You may have noticed that I was audibly impressed with Aissata’s hand clap. You know a really good susu clap when it is heard and not seen. As you can imagine, the double hand clap is a rarity, and I have never had the good fortune to witness the elusive triple clap myself. If I ever find someone who can do it, I’ll let you know. As with materials, the susu-ing method embellishments are infinite. Just think of it as the Malian version of whistle while you work. (Incidentally, women are not allowed to whistle in Mali. As a woman and avid whistler, this saddens me.)

P.S. The car pictured in the middle of the concession is not operable. In Mali, when your car doesn't work you just leave it in the middle of your yard. Just like Tennessee!