Glossary
AIDS
AIDS is an acronym standing for Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids). As the name suggests, the disease attacks the immune system making sufferers very susceptible to illness and infection, which their bodies are less able to fight because of the disease. AIDS can be contracted through exchange of bodily fluids like semen, blood and breast milk. It is possible to be born with AIDS as children may have contracted it from their mothers, or people can contract it through contaminated blood transfusions as well as through unprotected sex (both heterosexual and homosexual). There is currently no cure for HIV/AIDS, although medicines are available to help lessen the effects of the disease. The film Bamako raises the issue of the high expense of the drugs needed to reduce the symptoms and effects of HIV/AIDS.
Colonisation
Colonisation is the process by which nations have expanded their territories beyond their boundaries by force, conquering those territories in order to rule over them and exploit their resources. European nations waged aggressive wars on newly 'discovered' countries in order to increase their prestige and wealth. The 'wealth' of these countries largely lay in natural resources like timber, gold, sugar, or even human beings. With its significant army and culture of sea-travel and exploration, Britain colonised a large number of territories including a large part of what is now the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, India, South Africa and parts of East Africa, as well as many other areas. Bamako makes reference to this colonial history as a means of contextualising the current situation in Mali and Africa.
Developing countries
This is a term used to describe countries that have a low standard of living. Countries like the UK are termed 'highly developed'; by thinking about the contrast between living conditions in the UK and poorer countries like Mali the realities of this term are more easily understood. In order to categorise countries' living standards (into categories such as 'highly developed' and 'developing'), the Human Development Index looks at aspects of day-to-day life, such as education, life expectancy and literacy. Bamako raises the issues of historical factors such as slavery, in order to show that the term 'developing' is more problematic than it might at first seem.
Documentary
A documentary is a film, television or radio programme intended to document events and situations. 'Document' means 'record'. Instead of using fictional characters to tell stories, the documentary aims to capture events or situations 'as they are'.
Economic conditions
With reference to this particular situation, economic conditions are often attached to much needed loans, grants, aid or debt relief. (This is known as 'conditionality').
These conditions are part of the agreement between institutions like the IMF or World Bank and developing countries. These conditions include the opening up of developing world markets to imports and reduction in tariffs on foreign imports; the reduction or elimination of government intervention (subsidy to farmers or small industry); privatisation of state held industries; privatisation of public utilities (e.g. water); cuts in public services (e.g. teachers).
Elite
Elite is a term is used to describe a (usually small) group of individuals, organisations or nations that command influence over others (usually a majority). This influence may take the form of economic, social, or political power.
Extraneous
Extraneous mean extra, separate, outside or additional.
Famine
A famine is the economic and social catastrophe of mass food shortage. This is caused by factors such as natural disaster, drought, earthquakes, crop or animal disease or other factors such as war or economic policy. The film Bamako raises the issue that the commonplace footage of famine in Africa is less due to natural disaster than to Africa's colonial history and the damaging legacy of these policies and processes.
Globalisation
Globalisation refers to the opening up of trade on an international scale. This particularly refers to the massive global expansion, and mass-standardisation, of particular cultural ways of thinking. This term is particularly used to discuss the global presence of certain shops and brands. For example you may have been on holiday to other countries and found that companies like McDonald's have an outlet. Globalisation can refer to an economic phenomenon, but also has overtones of the cultural (this might include the export of TV and films: consider how many US produced texts you have watched), and the technological and political expansion of certain ways of thinking, particularly that of capitalism and commercialism.
Immigration
Immigration is the movement of citizens of one country to take up residency (legally or illegally) in other countries. Bamako shows us the story of a young man who emigrated in order to improve his life. The hardships and dangers involved in immigration are highlighted through his story. Emigration is leaving a country to live somewhere else, and immigration is entering a country to live there. So, someone might emigrate from the UK to become an immigrant in the US.
International Aid
International Aid is a process by which one country helps another country through some form of donation. The main recipients of foreign aid are developing countries and the main contributors are developed countries.
International Monetary Fund
The IMF describes itself as 'an organization of 184 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty'.
Parable
A parable is a brief, succinct story, in prose or verse, that illustrates a moral or religious lesson by the use of a metaphor (using one thing to represent another). A parable's purpose is usually to teach the reader/listener to behave in a certain way.
Slavery
Slavery is the status of specific people known as slaves, who have been stripped of individual rights, and are the property of another person or household. Historically, slavery has generally occurred as a means of securing the labour of the slave, without the right of the slave to refuse, leave or receive anything in return for their labour.
Testimony
In law, testimony is a form of evidence that is obtained from a witness who makes a solemn statement or declaration of fact. Testimony may be oral or written, and it is usually made by oath under penalty of perjury.
Verdict
In law, a verdict is the formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to the jury by a judge. In a criminal case, the verdict is either 'guilty' or 'not guilty'.
A verdict of guilty in a criminal case is generally followed by a judgment or conviction rendered by the judge, which in turn will be followed by sentencing.
Witness
A witness is someone who has first-hand knowledge about a crime or event and can help give important information about it. A witness who has seen the event first-hand is known as an eyewitness. Witnesses are often called before a court of law to testify in trials.
World Bank
The World Bank's activities are focused on developing countries, in fields such as human development (e.g. education, health), agriculture and rural development (e.g. irrigation, rural services), environmental protection (e.g. pollution reduction, establishing and enforcing regulations), infrastructure (e.g. roads, urban regeneration, electricity), and governance (e.g. anti-corruption, the development of legal institutions).
World Trade Laws
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is an international body that aims to solve trade disputes on the world stage and provide training in the areas of WTO law for developing countries.
