Culture of Côte d'Ivoire
Encyclopedia
The culture of Côte d'Ivoire
is ethnically diverse. More than sixty indigenous ethnic groups are often cited, although this number may be reduced to seven clusters of ethnic groups by classifying small units together on the basis of common cultural and historical characteristics. These may be reduced to four major cultural regions - the East Atlantic (primarily Akan), West Atlantic (primarily Kru), Voltaic, and Mandé
-differentiated in terms of environment, economic activity, language, and overall cultural characteristics. In the southern half of the country, East Atlantic and West Atlantic cultures, separated by the Bandama River
, each make up almost one-third of the indigenous population. Roughly one-third of the indigenous population lives in the north, including Voltaic peoples in the northeast and Mandé in the northwest.
The diverse culture of the Côte d’Ivoire, a coastal West African country bordered by Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso
, and Guinea
, is exemplified by a multitude of ethnic groups, events and festivals, music, and art.
(Festival of Masks) is one of the Côte d’Ivoire’s biggest and most well known festivals. Competitions between villages are held in order to find the best dancers, and to pay homage to the forest spirits embodied in the intricate masks.
Another important event is the week long carnival in Bouaké
each March.
In April there is the Fête du Dipri in Gomon, near Abidjan
. This festival starts around midnight, when women and children that are naked, sneak out of their huts and are carrying out nocturnal rites to exorcise the village of evil spells. Before sunrise the chief appears, drums pound and villagers go into trances. The frenzy continues until late afternoon of the next day.
The major Muslim
holiday is Ramadan
, a month when everyone fasts between sunrise and sunset in accordance with the fourth pillar of Islam
. Ramadan ends with a huge feast, Eid al-Fitr, where everyone prays together, visits friends, gives presents and stuffs themselves.
s and tuber
s, but the Ivorians have a particular kind of small, open-air restaurant called a maquis which is unique to them. Attiéké (grated cassava
) is a popular Côte d'Ivoire side dish.
Maquis normally feature braised chicken and fish smothered in onions and tomatoes, served with attiéké, or kedjenou, a chicken dish made with vegetables and a mild sauce. One of the tastiest street-vended foods is aloko
, which is ripe banana in palm oil, spiced with steamed onions and chili and eaten alone or with grilled fish. Bangui
is a local palm wine.
, Kpalogo, Shekere (Youroo), Akombe, and Cleavers, and are typically made with local materials, such as gourds, animal skins, and horns. In the past, music has been the main forte of one social group, the griot
(village entertainers).
The Côte d’Ivoire’s Alpha Blondy
, the world famous reggae
artist, is probably the country’s best known singer, though his music isn’t necessarily representative.
The Baoulé, the Dan (or Yacouba) and the Senoufo are all known for their wooden carvings.
Contemporary art is well developed in Ivory Coast. Some of the major artists are;
in the east, the Senufo in the north, the Dioula in the northwest and west, the Bété
in the center-west and the Dan-Yacouba in the west.
Other groups, such as the Akan
and their sub-groups the Akye, Anye, and Aowin also make up a large part of the population. Each of these groups has their own history, economy, religion, & art, although each shares many things in common with the other groups of the Côte d’Ivoire. Migrants from other West African countries account for up to 40% of the population, and this large population also adds to the culture and customs.
is the major cultural group of the Ivory Coast, with a population of approximately 8 million. The Baule
, the Akye, the Anye, the Dan, the Asante and the Aowin
are all Akan peoples. Among the Akan-speaking peoples of southern Ghana
and adjacent Côte d'Ivoire, ritual pottery and figurative terracottas are used in connection with funeral practices that date at least to the 17th century. Much of what we know about ancient Akan customs comes to us in the form of oral histories which have survived for several hundred years. Many of the objects that have been recovered through archaeological methods are still produced in modified form among Akan peoples today. The rise of the early Akan centralized states can be traced to the 13th century, and is likely related to the opening of trade routes established to move gold throughout the region. It was not until the end of the 17th century, however, that the grand Asante Kingdom emerged in the central forest region of Ghana, when several small states united under the Chief of Kumasi
in a move to achieve political freedom from the Denkyira
.
people inhabit the Central Côte d’Ivoire. Their population is approximately 400,000 and the language is Baule (Akan cluster of Twi
).
.
local economy. Yams and some maize are the primary crops. They also export cocoa and koala nuts, using exploited migrant laborers (mostly from Burkina Faso
) on local plantations. Crops such as maize
, peppers, sweet potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, manioc, and squash were introduced from the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade
. They raise farm animals, like sheep, goats, dogs, and chickens. Their craft items and local produce are sold along with imported goods all over the world.
government is highly centralized; there is a king or chief on top, who inherits his position, along with various subchiefs in charge of local populations. All rely on political advisors who aid in the making of decisions. The primary mask association, The Goli
, provides social order among the Baule
.
people living in the southern Côte d’Ivoire, with a population of about 55,000. They speak Akye (Akan
cluster of Twi
).
(wooden dolls) are associated with fertility. The traditions of pottery and weaving are extensive and long lasting throughout the Akan peoples. Woven on behalf of royalty, Kente cloth has come to symbolize African power all over the world.
believe in an ultimate god, who has various different names depending on the different regions of worship. At one point, according to Akan mythology, this god walked upon the earth with man, but moved high up into the sky after being continuously beaten with a pestle of an old woman pounding fufu
. No priests serve him directly, and the general belief is that he may be contacted directly. Priests do, however, serve other spirits, acting as a conduit of the gods, a liaison between them and mankind. There are numerous other gods (abosom), usually connected to the natural world, like ocean and river spirits, as well as a variety of local spirits who receive their power from this supreme god. The earth itself is considered a deity
, and a female one, directly connected to fertility
and fruitfulness. Prayer is held daily, and includes offerings to ancestors and spirits.
(Akan
cluster of Twi
).
,,
, the Anyi
people migrated to the Cote d’Ivoire from Ghana
between the 16th and 18th centuries. They were never quite as powerful as the Asante and Baule, and as a result were indirectly under their respective rules at the height of both empires. The Baule Empire that rosed up from 1720 between the Bandama
and the Comoe
Rivers was the result of Family feud that arose between the then Queen Mother of Asante Nana Abenaa Pokua during the death of Nana Osei Tutu I and Her GrandNephew Nana Opoku Ware I who assassinated his Grand Uncle Nana Darko, the brother of Nana Abena Pokua. This incident brought about the civil war that engulfed the Asante Kingdom between 1717 to 1720 The incident split the Kingdom into two and the then united Oyoko-Dako Clan were also divided. The Oyokos who were the nephews of the Adakos, headed by Opoku Ware, kept control of Oyoko clan and the Golden Stool, whereas Nana Abena Pokua the QueenMother moved to Kaase (then Kwaman) with her partisans numbering about 3.5 million half the population of Asante moved and settled with the Anyi, Nzema and the Sanhwi to the west of Asante. Nana Opoku Ware was entooled as Asantehene and his mother Nana Nyarko Kusi Amoa, the niece of Nana Abena Pokua was also entooled as the Queen mother of Asante in 1720.
Between 1720 and 1730 Nana Abena Pokua, faced with many obstacles, confronted life with determination, living among the Nzima/Anyi and Safwi, She adopted their language and even cange her name from Abena Pokuaa to Abla Poku thus delinking any ties with Asante. Nana Abla Pokou in order to cross the River Comoe to escape the partisans of Opoku Ware who were sent to return the partisans of Nana Pokou back into the Asante Kingdom, had to sacrifice her son to the River Comoe before they were able to cross the river with her partisans. After crossing the River Comoe Nana Abla Pokou and her various warrior Groups started to settle each to ts location. The Kyidom warriors (Akye) settled immediately after the river Comoe to guide the route to Asante. They kept the Golden UMBRELLA and the sword of Nana Osei Tutu. The Abbe (Torchbearers) also settled after the Akye and the Mbatto, Ebrie and all the other foot Soldiers settled in the regions that is today Akan land in Cote d'Ivoire.
In accordance to akan tradition, after the consolidation of the new Kingdom, after meeting fierce resistance from the defeated for Lords of the Akan the Denkyira, Nana Abena Pokua defeated them in war and subdued them and thereby established the Baule Kingdom. By 1730 Nana Abla Poukou was entooled as the First Reigning Queen of the New Akan Kingdom of Baule after the death of Nana Osei Tutu I. thereby with the stools of Obiri Yeboah and DENKYIRA UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE NEW KINGDOM, Nana Poukou established Baule Dakon Clan as the undesputed leader and Ruler of the Akans. Below are the Ruling Akan Rulers who ruled after the death of Nana Osei Tutu I, King of the Asantes and the Baules.
Beretuo Dynasty 1717 to 1720 Amaniampon, the Mamponghene Regent, Mamponghene became regent due to the assassination of Nana Dako during the contest for the Succession to the throne after the death of King Osei Tutu the civil that ensued lasted for 3years 1717-1720 that led to the migration of Nana Abena Pokua and the Adako Dynasty to Cote d’lvoire and the founding of the Baule Kingdom.
ADAKO ROYAL Dynasty Obaahemaa Nana Abena Pokua BAULE Confederation
1720-1730 nation building Founded the Baule Kingdom
That covered all the Akans in Cote d’lvoire.
production. Yams are also an important staple crop in the region. Palm oil
is also sold as a commodity at the international market.
live in loose, spread out neighborhoods of family housing complexes, usually with a head
man, directed by a Council of Elders who represents the town in regional politics. The Anyi
, like other Akan
peoples, have a highly stratified
society including a hierarchical political administration made up of officials with rank and power. Since the Anyi are matrilineal, women have relatively high social status in both the political and economic areas.
people live in the Southern Côte d’Ivoire and Southern Ghana
. They have a population of about 40,000 people, and speak Aowin
(Akan
cluster of Twi
). Their culture is incredibly similar to the other Akan
cultures in the area.
and the Côte d’Ivoire. They have a population of about 35,000 and speak Dan
(Mande
).
Art and music are enormous parts of Dan culture. The primary art form of the Dan is their masks, which emulate virtually every aspect of Dan society. Dan sculptors use masks to represent war, peace, social regulation, and entertainment. Mancala
game boards and stylized wooden spoons are also made with wood carving.
is between village and bush, in other words, things that have been controlled by man and things that have not. Crossing over the dividing line is dangerous business, and whenever it is done, whether to clear new fields or simply crossing the forest, the bush spirits must be appeased. In order to take part in village life, the bush spirits must take corporeal form. The Dan believe that all creatures have a spirit soul (du), which is imparted onto humans and animals from the creator god, Xra, through birth. One's du is immortal
and is passed on after death to a new being. However, some du remain bodiless. They inhabit the forests as bush spirits and must establish a relationship with a person if they wish to be manifested and honored. Often the spirit will request the chosen person to dance the spirit, utilizing a mask to illustrate the spirit's embodiment.]:)
in order to heighten their own prestige. Out of this custom was born the basic tradition of tin
among the Dan, which was based on displaying one's success in order to build a good reputation and name.
is still an essential part of the Dan economy today. Young people strive to make a name for themselves by lavishly spending at community feasts to demonstrate their wealth. Although farming and hunting have been largely replaced by laboring in the diamond camps or working at the rubber plantations, the establishment of a hierarchical social order is still based on the individual's ability to succeed.
, or school. Brass sculptures, wood carvings, and masks are mostly made there, and sold to local artisans. They are expert mask makers, but since farming is the highest profession possible, artists and musicians are low in the caste system (musicians are bottom).
they may cause drought, infertility
, and illness but people we very mean and killed them.
, farming is huge in the Senefou culture
. The society is very community centered; people often take turns working each other’s lands, trading off and on. There is usually a group in each village made up of men from ages 15 to 35, who are in charge of working in the fields and providing a huge festival during the dry season. To make farming and chores fun, local games to see how fast a man can hoe a field are held. Another society for men is the poro
, or school for young men, usually located in the forest. For Senefou women, the greatest ability is the ability to cook well; if a woman or girl cannot, it is a shame to the family. The women’s society, sandogo, is responsible mainly for divination.
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
is ethnically diverse. More than sixty indigenous ethnic groups are often cited, although this number may be reduced to seven clusters of ethnic groups by classifying small units together on the basis of common cultural and historical characteristics. These may be reduced to four major cultural regions - the East Atlantic (primarily Akan), West Atlantic (primarily Kru), Voltaic, and Mandé
Mandé
Mandé or Manden is a large group of related ethnic groups in West Africa who speak any of the many Mande languages spread throughout the region. Various Mandé groups are found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,...
-differentiated in terms of environment, economic activity, language, and overall cultural characteristics. In the southern half of the country, East Atlantic and West Atlantic cultures, separated by the Bandama River
Bandama River
The Bandama River is the longest river in Côte d'Ivoire with a length of some 800 kilometers. The south-flowing river is fed by the Marahoué, Solomougou, Kan and Nzi rivers and empties into the Tagba Lagoon and the Gulf of Guinea....
, each make up almost one-third of the indigenous population. Roughly one-third of the indigenous population lives in the north, including Voltaic peoples in the northeast and Mandé in the northwest.
The diverse culture of the Côte d’Ivoire, a coastal West African country bordered by Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, and Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, is exemplified by a multitude of ethnic groups, events and festivals, music, and art.
Events and Festivals
The Fêtes des Masques, held in November in the region of ManMan
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
(Festival of Masks) is one of the Côte d’Ivoire’s biggest and most well known festivals. Competitions between villages are held in order to find the best dancers, and to pay homage to the forest spirits embodied in the intricate masks.
Another important event is the week long carnival in Bouaké
Bouaké
Bouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 . It is the main urban settlement of the Bouaké Department with a population exceeding 1.2 million, in the Vallée du Bandama Region...
each March.
In April there is the Fête du Dipri in Gomon, near Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
. This festival starts around midnight, when women and children that are naked, sneak out of their huts and are carrying out nocturnal rites to exorcise the village of evil spells. Before sunrise the chief appears, drums pound and villagers go into trances. The frenzy continues until late afternoon of the next day.
The major Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
holiday is Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, a month when everyone fasts between sunrise and sunset in accordance with the fourth pillar of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Ramadan ends with a huge feast, Eid al-Fitr, where everyone prays together, visits friends, gives presents and stuffs themselves.
Cuisine
The traditional diet in Côte d'Ivoire is very similar to that of neighboring countries in its reliance on grainGRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
s and tuber
Tuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
s, but the Ivorians have a particular kind of small, open-air restaurant called a maquis which is unique to them. Attiéké (grated cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
) is a popular Côte d'Ivoire side dish.
Maquis normally feature braised chicken and fish smothered in onions and tomatoes, served with attiéké, or kedjenou, a chicken dish made with vegetables and a mild sauce. One of the tastiest street-vended foods is aloko
Aloko
Alloco is a Ivorian snack made from fried plantain. It is often served with chili pepper and onions. It is predominantly popular in the Ivory Coast and the surrounding African nations....
, which is ripe banana in palm oil, spiced with steamed onions and chili and eaten alone or with grilled fish. Bangui
Bangui
-Law and government:Bangui is an autonomous commune of the Central African Republic. With an area of 67 km², it is by far the smallest high-level administrative division of the CAR in area but the highest in population...
is a local palm wine.
Music
The traditional music style of many of the ethnic groups of the Côte d’Ivoire is characterized by a series of rhythms and melodies that occur simultaneously, without one dominating the other. Music is used in many aspects of the culture; The Dan celebrate Rice, Death, Marriage, Birth, and Weather all with music. Instruments include the Talking drum, djembeDjembe
A djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
, Kpalogo, Shekere (Youroo), Akombe, and Cleavers, and are typically made with local materials, such as gourds, animal skins, and horns. In the past, music has been the main forte of one social group, the griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
(village entertainers).
The Côte d’Ivoire’s Alpha Blondy
Alpha Blondy
Alpha Blondy is a reggae singer and international recording artist. Alpha Blondy was born Seydou Koné in Dimbokro, Côte d'Ivoire. He sings mainly in his native language of Dioula, in French and English, and sometimes in Arabic or Hebrew...
, the world famous reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artist, is probably the country’s best known singer, though his music isn’t necessarily representative.
Art
Masks are a prevalent art form in the Côte d’Ivoire. The variety and intricacy of masks created by the people of the Côte d’Ivoire is rivaled by none. Masks have many purposes; they are used mostly for representative reason; they can symbolize lesser deities, the souls of the deceased, and even caricatures of animals. They are considered sacred and very dangerous; as such, only certain powerful individuals and families are permitted to own them, and only specially trained individuals may wear the masks. It is dangerous for others to wear ceremonial masks because each mask has a soul, or life force, and when a person's face comes in contact with the inside of the mask that person is transformed into the entity the mask represents.The Baoulé, the Dan (or Yacouba) and the Senoufo are all known for their wooden carvings.
Contemporary art is well developed in Ivory Coast. Some of the major artists are;
- Ananias Leki DagoAnanias Leki DagoAnanias Leki Dago is an Ivorian photographer.He was born in 2.November.1970, in Abidjan.He studied at the Institut National Supérieur de l'Action et de l'Animation Culturelle in Abidjan....
(photographer, 1970): Winner of the First Prize of PhotoAfrica context in Spain in 2009 and Distinction Award from the Critical Photography French Kodak Price in 2004
- Christian LattierChristian LattierChristian Lattier was an Ivorian sculptor born in Grand Lahou, Cote d'ivoire.- Biography :He began to study in Écoles des Beaux-Arts, Saint-Etienne and after a year he transferred to École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he studied architecture and sculpture. He was inspired by the African masks...
(sculptor, 1925–1978): Winner of the grand prize of "World Festival of Black Arts" in Dakar. 19 pieces of Lattier's sculptures are currently in the collection of "Musée National de Côte d'Ivoire" in Abidjan.
- Yacouba KonatéYacouba Konaté- Biography :Yacouba Konaté is a curator, a writer, an art critic and a professor of Philosophy at the University of Cocody in Abidjan, Ivory Coast....
(curator, writer, art ctritic, professor of philosophy, 1953): In 2000 he served as a Director of the National Institute of Arts and Culture and as a Director of the Cabinet of Ministers of Culture and Francophony. He is also head of the l'Institut national supérieur des Arts et de l'action culturelle of AbidjanAbidjanAbidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
. He was one of the curators of individual exhibitions of 6th Dak'Art in 2004 and he was the Artistic Director of the Dakar BiennaleDakar BiennaleThe Dakar Biennale, or Dak'Art - Biennale de l'Art Africain Contemporain, is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Dakar, Senegal...
in 2006.
- Jems Robert Koko BiJems Robert Koko BiJems Robert Koko Bi is an Ivorian sculptor.He was born in 1966, in Sifra, Ivory Coast. He studied Spanish History between 1986-1988 in University of Abidjan. Between 1988-1995 he studied at Institut National Supérieur des Arts et de l'Action Culturelle in Abidjan. In 1997 he won the DAAD...
(sculptor, 1966)
- Ouattara WattsOuattara WattsOuattara Watts is an Ivorian painter.He was born in 1957, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.He studied in l’École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France....
(painter, 1957): Watts is an internationally recognized neo-expressionist painter. Watts is a jazz enthusiast, who merged music and art in paintings and collages by using recycled everyday materials.
- Paul SikaPaul SikaPaul Sika is an Ivorian fashion and advertising photographer/creative director/artist, who was born in 07.13.1985, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.He studied software engineering at University of Westminster, United Kingdom between 2003–2007 and became a freelance photographer in 2008. In 2009 he was...
(fashion and advertising photographer/creative director/artist, 1985)
- Mathilde MoraeauMathilde MoraeauMathilde Moreau is an Ivorian painter.She studied at Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Abidjan where she obtained a DCSA .From 20006, she is the Director of the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Abidjan....
(painter): Director of the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Abidjan
- Sidiki BakabaSidiki BakabaSidiki Bakaba is an actor, a scenario writer and a director from Ivory Coast.He lives and works in Abidjan. After studying at the National School of Drama of Abidjan, he conducts training at the Living Theatre and with Grotowski ....
(actor, scenario writer, director, 1949): Awarded for his entire career in 2nd Pan-African Cultural Festival in AlgiersAlgiers' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
in 2009 and Best Actor for West Africa by la Fondation des artistes de Côte d’Ivoire (FONDACI) in 2008
- Frédéric Bruly BouabréFrédéric Bruly BouabréFrédéric Bruly Bouabré, also known as Cheik Nadro , is an Ivorian artist.Bouabré was born in Zéprégüé, and was among the first Ivorians to be educated by the French colonial government. On March 11, 1948, he received a vision, which directly influenced much of his later work...
(painter, 1923): Many of his paintings are in the collection of Jean PigozziJean PigozziJean Pigozzi is a businessman, art collector, philanthropist and photographer. He was born in Paris as the son of Henri Pigozzi, founder of the French car maker Simca. Pigozzi studied in Paris and at Harvard University before working for the Gaumont Film Company and 20th Century Fox...
Ethnic Groups
There are more than 60 ethnic groups in the Côte d’Ivoire, the key ones being the Baoulé in the center, the AgriAgri
Agri may refer to:* As shorthand or prefix referring to agriculture* Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development * Azerbaijan–Georgia–Romania Interconnector * Ağrı, a city in eastern Turkey* the Agri in southern Italy...
in the east, the Senufo in the north, the Dioula in the northwest and west, the Bété
Bété people
The Bete are a little-studied Ivory Coast group with strong cultural and artistic links to the Dan, the We and the Guro, among others. There are 93 distinct groups within the Bete polity. They are united only in that they subsistence farm to survive, but base most of their social and cultural...
in the center-west and the Dan-Yacouba in the west.
Other groups, such as the Akan
Akan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
and their sub-groups the Akye, Anye, and Aowin also make up a large part of the population. Each of these groups has their own history, economy, religion, & art, although each shares many things in common with the other groups of the Côte d’Ivoire. Migrants from other West African countries account for up to 40% of the population, and this large population also adds to the culture and customs.
Akan
The AkanAkan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
is the major cultural group of the Ivory Coast, with a population of approximately 8 million. The Baule
Baule
Baule is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
, the Akye, the Anye, the Dan, the Asante and the Aowin
Aowin
The Aowin are an Akan people. They live Predominantly in the Ivory Coast. Their population was estimated at around 40,000 in 1998....
are all Akan peoples. Among the Akan-speaking peoples of southern Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and adjacent Côte d'Ivoire, ritual pottery and figurative terracottas are used in connection with funeral practices that date at least to the 17th century. Much of what we know about ancient Akan customs comes to us in the form of oral histories which have survived for several hundred years. Many of the objects that have been recovered through archaeological methods are still produced in modified form among Akan peoples today. The rise of the early Akan centralized states can be traced to the 13th century, and is likely related to the opening of trade routes established to move gold throughout the region. It was not until the end of the 17th century, however, that the grand Asante Kingdom emerged in the central forest region of Ghana, when several small states united under the Chief of Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
in a move to achieve political freedom from the Denkyira
Denkyira
Denkyira was a powerful nation of Akan people that existed in southern present-day Ghana from 1620. Like all Akans they originated from Bono state. Before 1620 Denkyira was called Agona. The ruler of the Denkyira was called Denkyirahene and the capital was Jukwaa...
.
Baule (Baoule)
The BauleBaule
Baule is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
people inhabit the Central Côte d’Ivoire. Their population is approximately 400,000 and the language is Baule (Akan cluster of Twi
Twi
Asante, or Ashanti, is one of three literary dialects of the Akan language of southern Ghana, and the prestige dialect of that language. It is spoken in and around Kumasi, the capital of the former Ashanti Empire and current subnational Asante Kingdom within Ghana.Along with the Akuapem dialect,...
).
Art
The Baule create art in several different media, including gold and brass casting (similar to their Asante ancestors), wooden sculptures, and mask and figure carving. The mask is a primary art form in the Côte d’Ivoire, and the masks of the Baule are greatly influenced by their neighboring peoples, the Senufo and GuroGuro
Guro may refer to:*Guro, the Filipino word for "teacher", a teacher of Filipino martial arts; derived from the Sanskrit word guru*Guro-gu, a gu in Seoul, South Korea*Guro Station, a railway and subway station in Seoul, South Korea...
.
Religion
Ancestor worship and a hierarchy of nature gods make up the religious beliefs of the Baule. Alouroua is the creator god, and though other nature spirits and spouses are represented in sculpture, Alouroua is never physically manifested in art.History
The Baule are a part of the Akan people who inhabit Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The Baule migrated westward from Ghana when the Asante rose to power. This tale of their breakaway is preserved in their oral traditions. During the Asante rise to power, the Baule queen, Aura Poku, was competing directly with the Asante king. When she lost, she led the Baule away from Ghana and to the Central Côte d’Ivoire. Aura Poku’s descendant occupies the throne and palace she built, and is honored by the Baule as their nominal king.Economy
Markets, run primarily by women, are the center of the BauleBaule
Baule is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
local economy. Yams and some maize are the primary crops. They also export cocoa and koala nuts, using exploited migrant laborers (mostly from Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
) on local plantations. Crops such as maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, peppers, sweet potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, manioc, and squash were introduced from the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade
Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the trans-atlantic slave trade, refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth centuries...
. They raise farm animals, like sheep, goats, dogs, and chickens. Their craft items and local produce are sold along with imported goods all over the world.
Political Systems
The BauleBaule
Baule is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
government is highly centralized; there is a king or chief on top, who inherits his position, along with various subchiefs in charge of local populations. All rely on political advisors who aid in the making of decisions. The primary mask association, The Goli
Goli
Goli is a village development committee in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 2276 people living in 455 individual households.-External links:*...
, provides social order among the Baule
Baule
Baule is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
.
Akye
The Akye are an AkanAkan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
people living in the southern Côte d’Ivoire, with a population of about 55,000. They speak Akye (Akan
Akan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
cluster of Twi
Twi
Asante, or Ashanti, is one of three literary dialects of the Akan language of southern Ghana, and the prestige dialect of that language. It is spoken in and around Kumasi, the capital of the former Ashanti Empire and current subnational Asante Kingdom within Ghana.Along with the Akuapem dialect,...
).
Art
Woodcarving, pottery, and weaving are all art forms of the Akye. The stools carved are seen as “seats of power” and akuabaAkuaba
Akuaba are wooden ritual fertility dolls from Ghana and nearby areas. The best known akuaba are those of the Ashanti people, whose akuaba have large, disc-like heads...
(wooden dolls) are associated with fertility. The traditions of pottery and weaving are extensive and long lasting throughout the Akan peoples. Woven on behalf of royalty, Kente cloth has come to symbolize African power all over the world.
Religion
The AkanAkan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
believe in an ultimate god, who has various different names depending on the different regions of worship. At one point, according to Akan mythology, this god walked upon the earth with man, but moved high up into the sky after being continuously beaten with a pestle of an old woman pounding fufu
Fufu
Fufu, , is a staple snack of West and Central Africa. It is a thick paste usually made by boiling starchy root vegetables in water and pounding with a mortar and pestle until the desired consistency is reached...
. No priests serve him directly, and the general belief is that he may be contacted directly. Priests do, however, serve other spirits, acting as a conduit of the gods, a liaison between them and mankind. There are numerous other gods (abosom), usually connected to the natural world, like ocean and river spirits, as well as a variety of local spirits who receive their power from this supreme god. The earth itself is considered a deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
, and a female one, directly connected to fertility
Fertility
Fertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction...
and fruitfulness. Prayer is held daily, and includes offerings to ancestors and spirits.
Economy
Along the coast of the Côte d’Ivoire, fishing is very important, as the depleted forests hold little promise for hunting. The markets are run mostly by women who as a result hold a large amount of economic power, while the men fish, hunt, and clear land. Both participate in agricultural tasks.Political Systems
Royal membership among Akan is determined through connection to the land. Anyone who traces decadency from a founding member of a village or town may be considered royal. Each family is responsible for maintaining political and social order within its confines.Anye
The Anye people live in the Southeastern Côte d’Ivoire, with a population of approximately 100,000. They speak AnyiAnyin language
The Anyin language is spoken principally in Côte d'Ivoire and in Ghana. It is an Akan language member of the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family of languages...
(Akan
Akan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
cluster of Twi
Twi
Asante, or Ashanti, is one of three literary dialects of the Akan language of southern Ghana, and the prestige dialect of that language. It is spoken in and around Kumasi, the capital of the former Ashanti Empire and current subnational Asante Kingdom within Ghana.Along with the Akuapem dialect,...
).
Art
Funerary images and monuments hold special importance among the Anye people; artistic expression is focused on creating such art forms, for the more beautiful the monument is, the deeper the respect for the deceased. Through these types of grave monuments, dedicated to the ancestors, families can demonstrate their affluence and dedication at the same time.,,
Official Dakon History
A subgroup of the AkanAkan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
, the Anyi
Anyi people
The Anyi people are an ethnic group in southeast Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.. They are an Akan people who speak the Anyi language.-History:...
people migrated to the Cote d’Ivoire from Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
between the 16th and 18th centuries. They were never quite as powerful as the Asante and Baule, and as a result were indirectly under their respective rules at the height of both empires. The Baule Empire that rosed up from 1720 between the Bandama
Bandama River
The Bandama River is the longest river in Côte d'Ivoire with a length of some 800 kilometers. The south-flowing river is fed by the Marahoué, Solomougou, Kan and Nzi rivers and empties into the Tagba Lagoon and the Gulf of Guinea....
and the Comoe
Komoé River
The Komoé River is a river in West Africa. The river originates in Burkina Faso, is joined by the Léraba River, then forms the border between Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire until it enters Côte d'Ivoire near Ferké, where it is the major drainage for northeastern portion of that country before...
Rivers was the result of Family feud that arose between the then Queen Mother of Asante Nana Abenaa Pokua during the death of Nana Osei Tutu I and Her GrandNephew Nana Opoku Ware I who assassinated his Grand Uncle Nana Darko, the brother of Nana Abena Pokua. This incident brought about the civil war that engulfed the Asante Kingdom between 1717 to 1720 The incident split the Kingdom into two and the then united Oyoko-Dako Clan were also divided. The Oyokos who were the nephews of the Adakos, headed by Opoku Ware, kept control of Oyoko clan and the Golden Stool, whereas Nana Abena Pokua the QueenMother moved to Kaase (then Kwaman) with her partisans numbering about 3.5 million half the population of Asante moved and settled with the Anyi, Nzema and the Sanhwi to the west of Asante. Nana Opoku Ware was entooled as Asantehene and his mother Nana Nyarko Kusi Amoa, the niece of Nana Abena Pokua was also entooled as the Queen mother of Asante in 1720.
Between 1720 and 1730 Nana Abena Pokua, faced with many obstacles, confronted life with determination, living among the Nzima/Anyi and Safwi, She adopted their language and even cange her name from Abena Pokuaa to Abla Poku thus delinking any ties with Asante. Nana Abla Pokou in order to cross the River Comoe to escape the partisans of Opoku Ware who were sent to return the partisans of Nana Pokou back into the Asante Kingdom, had to sacrifice her son to the River Comoe before they were able to cross the river with her partisans. After crossing the River Comoe Nana Abla Pokou and her various warrior Groups started to settle each to ts location. The Kyidom warriors (Akye) settled immediately after the river Comoe to guide the route to Asante. They kept the Golden UMBRELLA and the sword of Nana Osei Tutu. The Abbe (Torchbearers) also settled after the Akye and the Mbatto, Ebrie and all the other foot Soldiers settled in the regions that is today Akan land in Cote d'Ivoire.
In accordance to akan tradition, after the consolidation of the new Kingdom, after meeting fierce resistance from the defeated for Lords of the Akan the Denkyira, Nana Abena Pokua defeated them in war and subdued them and thereby established the Baule Kingdom. By 1730 Nana Abla Poukou was entooled as the First Reigning Queen of the New Akan Kingdom of Baule after the death of Nana Osei Tutu I. thereby with the stools of Obiri Yeboah and DENKYIRA UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE NEW KINGDOM, Nana Poukou established Baule Dakon Clan as the undesputed leader and Ruler of the Akans. Below are the Ruling Akan Rulers who ruled after the death of Nana Osei Tutu I, King of the Asantes and the Baules.
Beretuo Dynasty 1717 to 1720 Amaniampon, the Mamponghene Regent, Mamponghene became regent due to the assassination of Nana Dako during the contest for the Succession to the throne after the death of King Osei Tutu the civil that ensued lasted for 3years 1717-1720 that led to the migration of Nana Abena Pokua and the Adako Dynasty to Cote d’lvoire and the founding of the Baule Kingdom.
ADAKO ROYAL Dynasty Obaahemaa Nana Abena Pokua BAULE Confederation
1720-1730 nation building Founded the Baule Kingdom
That covered all the Akans in Cote d’lvoire.
- 1730 to 1760 NANA ABENAA POKUAA (ABLA POKU) AWURAPOKU.)
- 1760 to 1790 NANA AKUA BONI
- 1790 to 1840 NANA KOUAME TUTU
- 1840 to 1870 NANA KOUAKOU ANOUGBLE I
- 1870 to 1880 NANA TUTU DIBI (TUTU YEMAN)
- 1880 to 1890 NANA ANOUBGLE DEIKYE
- 1890 to 1902 NANA KOUAME GUIE (AGYEI)
- 1902 to 1925 NANA KOUADIO NDRI
- 1925 to 1958 NANA KOUAKOU ANOUGBLE 11
- 1958 to 1978 NANA KOUAME GUIE
- 1958 to 1993 NANA HOUPHOUET BOIGNY governed as Akan king and President
- 1993 to 2004 Nana Jean Baptist Kouame was nominated and enstooled as regent Nana Osei Tutu Anougble III Regent of the Baoule
- 1993 to Present Odomankoma Akoa Nana Baffour Gyanko Fofie was entooled as supreme head of Adako RoyalDynasty
- 1999 to Present Nana Baffour Gyanko Fofie I Nominated The Adako Akan Baule Monarch Awaiting Coronation when Peace and Calm Returns to the Nation.
Economy
Anyi agricultural economy revolves around banana and taroTaro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
production. Yams are also an important staple crop in the region. Palm oil
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
is also sold as a commodity at the international market.
Political Systems
The AnyiAnyi people
The Anyi people are an ethnic group in southeast Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.. They are an Akan people who speak the Anyi language.-History:...
live in loose, spread out neighborhoods of family housing complexes, usually with a head
Village head
The village headman or village chief is a central government post. The village headman is the person appointed to administer an area that is often a single village.The headman has several official duties in the village...
man, directed by a Council of Elders who represents the town in regional politics. The Anyi
Anyi people
The Anyi people are an ethnic group in southeast Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.. They are an Akan people who speak the Anyi language.-History:...
, like other Akan
Akan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
peoples, have a highly stratified
Social stratification
In sociology the social stratification is a concept of class, involving the "classification of persons into groups based on shared socio-economic conditions ... a relational set of inequalities with economic, social, political and ideological dimensions."...
society including a hierarchical political administration made up of officials with rank and power. Since the Anyi are matrilineal, women have relatively high social status in both the political and economic areas.
Religion
Ancestors and ancestor worship are at the center of the Anyi’s religious beliefs. One should always remember and honor one’s ancestors, and strive to live life so that, in turn, as an ancestor one will be revered and remembered. In keeping with this system, when a person passes, there is an elaborate ceremony with ritual washing, dressing the dead in fine clothes and gold jewelry, and a mourning period allowing the family to show respect for departed and to allow a safe passage and welcome for the deceased into the spirit world.Aowin
The AowinAowin
The Aowin are an Akan people. They live Predominantly in the Ivory Coast. Their population was estimated at around 40,000 in 1998....
people live in the Southern Côte d’Ivoire and Southern Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. They have a population of about 40,000 people, and speak Aowin
Aowin
The Aowin are an Akan people. They live Predominantly in the Ivory Coast. Their population was estimated at around 40,000 in 1998....
(Akan
Akan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
cluster of Twi
Twi
Asante, or Ashanti, is one of three literary dialects of the Akan language of southern Ghana, and the prestige dialect of that language. It is spoken in and around Kumasi, the capital of the former Ashanti Empire and current subnational Asante Kingdom within Ghana.Along with the Akuapem dialect,...
). Their culture is incredibly similar to the other Akan
Akan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
cultures in the area.
Dan
The Dan are a people who inhabit LiberiaLiberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
and the Côte d’Ivoire. They have a population of about 35,000 and speak Dan
Dan language
Dan is a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia . There is also a population of about 800 speakers in Guinea. Dan is a tonal language, with three main tones and two glide/contour tones....
(Mande
Mande languages
The Mande languages are spoken in several countries in West Africa by the Mandé people and include Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Bissa, Dioula, Kagoro, Bozo, Mende, Susu, Yacouba, Vai, and Ligbi...
).
Art and music are enormous parts of Dan culture. The primary art form of the Dan is their masks, which emulate virtually every aspect of Dan society. Dan sculptors use masks to represent war, peace, social regulation, and entertainment. Mancala
Mancala
Mancala is a family of board games played around the world, sometimes called "sowing" games, or "count-and-capture" games, which describes the game-play. Mancala games play a role in many African and some Asian societies comparable to that of chess in the West, or the game of Go in Eastern Asia...
game boards and stylized wooden spoons are also made with wood carving.
Religion
The Dan world view holds that everything can be divided into two separate and clear categories. The primary dichotomyDichotomy
A dichotomy is any splitting of a whole into exactly two non-overlapping parts, meaning it is a procedure in which a whole is divided into two parts...
is between village and bush, in other words, things that have been controlled by man and things that have not. Crossing over the dividing line is dangerous business, and whenever it is done, whether to clear new fields or simply crossing the forest, the bush spirits must be appeased. In order to take part in village life, the bush spirits must take corporeal form. The Dan believe that all creatures have a spirit soul (du), which is imparted onto humans and animals from the creator god, Xra, through birth. One's du is immortal
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
and is passed on after death to a new being. However, some du remain bodiless. They inhabit the forests as bush spirits and must establish a relationship with a person if they wish to be manifested and honored. Often the spirit will request the chosen person to dance the spirit, utilizing a mask to illustrate the spirit's embodiment.]:)
History
Oral traditions describe the Dan society of the 19th century as lacking any central governing power. Social cohesion was fostered by a shared language and a preference for intermarriage. Generally, each village had a headman who had earned his position of advantage in the community through hard work in the fields and through luck as a hunter. They usually surrounded themselves with young warriors for protection from invading neighbors and exchanged gifts with other chiefsTribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
in order to heighten their own prestige. Out of this custom was born the basic tradition of tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
among the Dan, which was based on displaying one's success in order to build a good reputation and name.
Economy
The tradition of tinTin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
is still an essential part of the Dan economy today. Young people strive to make a name for themselves by lavishly spending at community feasts to demonstrate their wealth. Although farming and hunting have been largely replaced by laboring in the diamond camps or working at the rubber plantations, the establishment of a hierarchical social order is still based on the individual's ability to succeed.
Political Systems
It has been only recently, through the creation of the leopard society (go), that a unifying political organization has emerged among the Dan. The secret political society centers around the powerful spirit go, who is responsible for peacemaking. Although the power of go seems to be increasing throughout Dan society, individual villages still maintain a high degree of political independence, and the economic power of the individual is still highly valued.Art
Much of the Senufo’s sculpted work is made in the poroPoro
The Poro, or Purrah or Purroh, is a secret society of Sierra Leone and Liberia.-Structure:Only males are admitted to its ranks, but two other affiliated and secret associations exist, the Yassi and the Bundu, the first of which is nominally reserved for females, but members of the Poro are admitted...
, or school. Brass sculptures, wood carvings, and masks are mostly made there, and sold to local artisans. They are expert mask makers, but since farming is the highest profession possible, artists and musicians are low in the caste system (musicians are bottom).
History
The Senufo are made up of a number of different groups who migrated south to Mali and the Cote d’Ivoire in the 15th and 16th centuries.Religion
The Senufo are a very animistic society; they believe that the ancestor spirits are responsible for all events that occur, and if they are not appeased through proper ritualRitual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
they may cause drought, infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
, and illness but people we very mean and killed them.
Political System/Economy
The Senufo are known as excellent farmers, and are mainly a farming society. They live by a strict caste system, where the farmer is top and the musicians are at the bottom, everyone else filling in between. One of the highest possible honors given in the Senefou culture is the sambali (champion cultivator), who is respected throughout the region and in his old age is typically given a strong leadership role. Even for those who do not belong to the farmer casteCaste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, farming is huge in the Senefou culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
. The society is very community centered; people often take turns working each other’s lands, trading off and on. There is usually a group in each village made up of men from ages 15 to 35, who are in charge of working in the fields and providing a huge festival during the dry season. To make farming and chores fun, local games to see how fast a man can hoe a field are held. Another society for men is the poro
Poro
The Poro, or Purrah or Purroh, is a secret society of Sierra Leone and Liberia.-Structure:Only males are admitted to its ranks, but two other affiliated and secret associations exist, the Yassi and the Bundu, the first of which is nominally reserved for females, but members of the Poro are admitted...
, or school for young men, usually located in the forest. For Senefou women, the greatest ability is the ability to cook well; if a woman or girl cannot, it is a shame to the family. The women’s society, sandogo, is responsible mainly for divination.
See also
- Côte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
- Languages of Côte d'IvoireLanguages of Côte d'IvoireMajor languages of Côte d'Ivoire include Baoulé, Dan, and Dioula. The official language is French, which was the colonial language....