Research Training Program

Dalia Palchik
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

Mary Jo Arnoldi, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Anthropology

"Being able to do fieldwork with Mali at the Folklife Festival made RTP my highlight so far in Anthropology."

A Short Case-Study of Key Issues Surrounding Gender and Economics in Mali as Observed Through the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The West African country of Mali has a rich cultural heritage with dynamic artisan and music traditions. In that heritage, the role of women is continually important and often separate from the roles played by the men. This project not only documented Mali's participation in the 37th Annual American Folklife Festival, but also offered a chance to delve more deeply into the issues pertaining to the women’s roles in the Diaspora. The specific lens used was the eight women presenting their regional cuisines in the “Foodways” demonstrations. A second lens present was that of the Diaspora seen through a Malian woman living in the U.S. who was able to translate the Malian languages and culture to the American public and to the scientist. Data collection involved observing, photographing and videotaping demonstrators’ and artisans' exhibitions, performances, and free-time. Additionally, interviews were conducted with a portion of the participants and volunteers. Some of the key issues perceived in the research included women’s and Mali’s relationship with modernization and with the open market, urbanization, the importance of the woman in the family’s economy, cultural and ethnic traditions and identification, dynamics between government and NGO programs for women and girls. In Mali, a country who’s cultural heritage is held in high regard by people both in the highest and lowest classes, the festival was an opportunity not only to inform the American public of its rich culture of today and yesterday, but also an opportunity for its government to make important steps towards the economic improvement of one of the poorest countries in the world. In observing and interacting with the upper-class urban women of the “Foodways” exhibition, parts of their involvement in the Malian economic arena through cuisine and entrepreneurship became apparent. Future research might include a longer study of the Malian Diaspora living in Paris, followed by a trip to Mali for more extensive research.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number DBI-02435123.

Letter of gratitude