From the beginning of the story, the Islamic religion penetrates itself into the existing culture in the Segu Empire. The traditional religion was one in which there are many gods and spirits that control the lives and destinies of mortal humans. Fetishism was also commonplace in the culture, in the sense that people decorate themselves with various objects in order to please their gods and to maintain a good future for them, as in the case with Nya offering an egg to the family boli to promote peace and a good life for the newborn. Magic was also a staple in Bambara culture, with the existence of soothsayers and fetish priests, who used magical powers to predict the future. Islamic religion first showed

its "face" in Segu by the presence of their way of dressing and the eastern goods that existed within the city limits. Merchants also inhabited the city, which instilled a more capitalistic presence in Segu. The mosque was also a display of the presence of Islam within Segu.

The blending of Islam, Fetishism, and Animism is greatly felt throughout the work. Islam forced Segu's inhabitants to rethink their traditional values and culture. An example of this is in the case of Islam's position against polygamy. From this, some of the Bambaras reduced the number of wives that they had. Islam also changed because of the Animistic tendencies of the Bambara. One can realize that a change in both cultures would occur when Tiekoro first saw the written word, and considered it magic. The fact that Segu was an empire that was formed by war and "the sword" changed the view of family life and brotherhood that was associated with Islam. Muslims and Fetishists formed groups together in order to facilitate their personal gain. Conflict arose in the originally peaceful Islamic life. An example of this blending of two different worlds is when "Omar hated most was the tolerance on the part of Islam towards fetishism and the mingling together of Islam and fetishist rites"(Conde, 474). From these occurrences, the cultural identities of Islam and the Bambara would never be the same in Segu and its surrounding areas.

Conde shows the blending of two identities in Segu in order to convey her personal opinion on culture. Her gen

Some common words found in the essay are:
Bambara Segu, Segu Empire, Islam Allah, Fetishism Animism, Bambaras Segu, Muslims Fetishists, Mulattoes Indians, Segu Tiekoro's, Islam Tiekoro, Conde Islamic, cultural identities, islamic religion, inhabited city, islam religion, love islam, written word, example blending, bambara segu, city limits, segu empire,
Approximate Word count = 1031
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)