Un État contre l'État : le Keleyadugu.

J.-L. Amselle — A State against the State: Keleyadugu. In anthropological traditions, segmentary societies or states are normally presented as either the complète opposite of state societies or forms of résistance to the émergence of a state. The passage between thèse two types of society is habitually taken to be the outcome of a process of conquest. Herein, another process is proposed: segmentary societies or states in Africa are usually contracted or domi-nated forms of a state. This holds true for Keleyadugu. This kafo chieftaincy arose out of the collapse of large political formations (Mali, Songhai) and then underwent a process of segmentation as it was incorporated into kingdoms or empires (Segu, Fula, Samori). Its segmentary structure results from thèse dominations. When applied to Keleyadugu, or to other similar small states, the terms "segmentary society" and "dépendent society" are clearly close synonyms.