Tulonke

Malians love to laugh with each other.  However, the way that they joke and tease each other is very different from how we do in America.  They have a much more structured and formulaic way of teasing, and it is called “Tulonke.”  When Malians are “Tulonke-ing” (which can mean playing, joking, or teasing), they rely on a very specific system for who they joke with and what they joke about.  Although some of their jokes seem simple and predictable to Americans, Malians find them absolutely hilarious, every time.  I often find myself laughing like crazy along with them, catching it contagiously!

Joking Cousins - Sinunkun

            The most prominent form of Tulonke in Mali is called joking cousins.  This system relies on all of the many diverse ethnic groups and family names here in Mali.  In this system, people of a certain last name are “joking cousins” with people of other specific last names.  For example, cowherders tease blacksmiths, the fishermen tease people of the Dogon ethnicity.  In my case, my last name is Kone, and the joking cousins of the Kones are Dembeles and Traores.  So, whenever I meet people whose last name is Traore, I immediately tell them that their last name is bad and we will begin insulting each other.  I’ll tell them they eat beans (an insult here), and then they’ll tell me I’m lazy because I’m a Kone.  Then everyone will laugh and shake hands.  Other common insults are to tell someone they sleep in the latrine, and that eat donkeys or dogs.

Family Relationships

            There are also family relationships that have a joking relationship.  Grandparents and grandchildren joke with each other, as well as your older brother’s wife, or, conversely, your husband’s younger brothers.  The grandparent-grandchild relationship is surprising: grandparents with say that they are afraid of their grandchildren, and that the grandchild is trying to kill them.  The grandchild, on the other hand, will say that their grandparents are too old and need to hurry up and die and stop taking all the food!  This is something I would never, ever say to one of my grandparents, but Malians love it, and find it hilarious.  Nevertheless, grandchildren still respect their grandparents very much, and would only say something seemingly disrespectful or rude if it is within the formula of “Tulonke.”

Ugly Name – Togo Jugu

            This is not found all over Mali, but in my village people especially love the form of Tulonke called togo jugu or ugly name.  In this system, everyone has an ugly name, for example, mine is monkey-nose.  Some ugly names include rat-testicle, old woman’s mouth, red cucumber mouth, dog-thigh, demon-butt, or pig-stomach.  When you call people their ugly name, or make insinuations about it, everyone laughs.  But, if someone calls you by your ugly name, you must act indignant, and say “don’t ever call me that” and threaten to make them buy you tea or kola nuts.  And its always hilarious.