Healing Through Laughter: Koteba's Therapeutic Role in Mali

In Mali's Point G psychiatric ward, patients participate in koteba, a traditional Bambara theater, to gain therapeutic benefits. Despite a shortage of mental health professionals, this cultural practice offers a sense of community and healing. Koteba performances have helped patients communicate more openly with doctors and reduce hospital stays.

In the bustling courtyard of a psychiatric ward in Mali's capital, Bamako, patients engage in a form of traditional theater called koteba. Accompanied by the rhythmic beats of a djembe drum, scenes depicting village disputes bring smiles and laughter to the participants.

Koteba, a cultural practice of the Bambara ethnic group, integrates acting, singing, and dancing. At Bamako's Point G hospital, this form of theater provides a sense of community for those undergoing psychiatric care. Mali suffers from a severe shortage of mental health professionals, with fewer than 50 available for over 20 million people.

Clinical psychologist Souleymane Coulibaly notes that koteba offers unique therapeutic benefits. Participants, lacking other treatment options, find solace and self-expression through these performances. Adama Bagayoko, director of the visiting troupe, emphasizes that koteba allows patients to communicate what they're unable to express to family or doctors. The weekly performances have been held since 1983, aiding patients in their journey to healing.