The Buanya – the leaf shoes of KAMA
The Buanya (pronounced Boua-Nia) are the leaf shoes shared by the peoples of Kama. Buanya is a contraction of the words in Baoulé [an AKAN language spoken in Côte d’Ivoire] “N’baboua” (which means shoes) and “N’ya” for leaves.
In the first chapter of Ultimes Griots, you can already see the leaf-shaped shoes on Imana’s feet. In chapter 5 as well, Doctor Kaboré wears Buanya. These unremarkable shoes shaped like simple leaves are in fact packed with technology.
The Buanya of Kama are made in the Ngaye Mekhe Koura district, in Jegu, the Jollof city. This district is the fashion capital when it comes to shoes. It is from there that the shoes supplying the markets of the Eloko (countries) of Kama are sent out.
The reputation of the shoes from Ngaye Mekhe Koura is owed to the great masters Garanké (the shoemakers’ caste), who over the centuries developed unrivaled manufacturing techniques. However, this tradition underwent a groundbreaking innovation thanks to Abodjé Kaloka.
A grand master of the Asante court, Abodjé brought the use of plant cells into production, which until then had been based on leather. From then on, new materials such as organic cotton, banana fibers, tree bark and rubber-tree resin breathed new life into the great craft of shoemaking.
The properties of the Buanya
1. A conductor of Nyama* (vital energy)
These leaf shoes are different from others because they do not insulate energy. Among other things, they pick up the vibrations sent through the ground by the talking drums. So whoever wears Buanya always receives the messages sent by the drums. Even hundreds of kilometers away. Provided they know how to decode them, of course!
Advanced models can detect variations in the Earth’s magnetic field and even the movement of conductive fluids within that field. Examples include underground water sources, magma, radon and so on.
This way you can find your bearings with your shoes, recharge your energy near a positive telluric source, communicate, and avoid certain places with harmful high energy (radon emissions, for example).
In another article we will look in detail at the drum telecommunication mechanism. A mechanism that sends vibrations drawing on telluric energy (from the earth) as well as cosmic energy (from the sky), and that uses the individual as a direct receiver. No transcription device needed.
2. A temperature regulator
In Book 1, Imana wears Buanya in the desert without complaining of burnt feet. Yet we all know how much this young man likes to complain. This shows how sturdy the shoes are.
These shoes connect the wearer to the natural source of electrons given off by the earth and synchronize them with the body’s physiological processes. Including temperature regulation.
Micro-sensors (C) connected to the soles of the feet report the body temperature. On the other side, similar sensors record the thermal data of the ground. The two data sets are cross-checked and analyzed by the Buanya in order to regulate the ground temperature relative to the human body.
That is why Imana doesn’t feel the burning sand under his feet. It would be the same if he were on snow-covered ground. However, the leaf-shaped shoes have their limits. They deteriorate when exposed to temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius. Other, more advanced models can handle extreme temperatures.
3. The ergonomics of the Buanya
Buanya adapt to the curves of the wearer’s soles. They thus create perfect balance and a feeling of well-being. They correct poor posture and create an unmatched sense of pleasure. When you wear them, it feels as if your feet are being gently massaged. The straps (A, B) are nerve-stimulation points designed for the wearer’s comfort.
4. Non-slip ridges
Buanya ensure good contact at the 7 support points of the sole. This creates perfect balance. Whether walking, running or pivoting. Depending on the ground and the movement, the ridges under the sole (D) strengthen according to the pressure applied to the 7 support points. This creates a non-slip system for perfect balance.
On some Buanya models, the ridges act as suction cups, able to grip certain surfaces.
5. Biodegradable shoes
Returning to nature is effortless. At the end of their life, the shoes break down on their own in nature. The living cells can recombine into other elements. By cutting the rear stem (E), you can speed up decomposition.
One question may be asked, however. Why doesn’t Mbobog wear shoes? The answer is simple. Buanya are pale imitations of trained soles. An initiate (like M’bobog) who masters his anatomy can do everything Buanya can do. And even more!