The secret Society of the Kôrêdugaw is a rite of wisdom that expresses the cultural identity of the Bambara, Malinké, Senufo and Samogo peoples of Mali. The ritual mixes humor and intelligence and aims to educate and train children and prepare them to face life and deal with social problems.
Members of the secret society of Kôrêdugaw act as social mediators and play major roles in festivals and many other events. They are both herbalists and traditional healers who use their knowledge of plants to treat illnesses and treat childless women, as well as bestow blessings and ward off bad luck.
The rite stands for generosity, tolerance, non-offending, and mastery of knowledge, and members come from all social and professional groups, regardless of race, gender, or religion. One becomes part of the secret society of Kôrêdugaw by inheritance, through spiritual instruction or through training with a master, and knowledge of the rite is passed on through annual initiation ceremonies.
Today, the traditional ways of transmission are threatened by the predominance of urban lifestyles among the younger generations, which has led to a decline in ritual practices.

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Secret Society of the Kôrêdugaw, The Rite of Wisdom in Mali was inscribed in 2011 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Mali.