Mossi

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Mossi warriors, cast bronze after a lost form by Derme Seini, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The Mossi (also called Mosi , their own name in the singular Moaaga and Moose in the plural) are the most populous ethnic group within the West African state of Burkina Faso . They populate the center of this country around the capital Ouagadougou and the city of Ouahigouya and some also settle in northern Ghana . Their language is the Mòoré . This African ethnic group numbers around five million people.

The settlement area includes the savannahs of the Volta Basin between the Sahel in the north and the wet savannahs in the south. The central plateau they inhabit , a highland in the center of Burkina Faso, is often called the Mossi plateau.

history

The Mossi originally come from the north of Ghana, from where they moved north on their horses around the 15th century, either driving away the peasant peoples living there ( Dogon ) or assimilating with them ( Nyonyonsé ). The descendants of the conquerors called themselves Nakomsé and formed the ruling class. The first empire established by the Mossi invading from the south was Tenkodogo . According to legend, it was Ouédraogo , the descendant of Princess Yennenga and the hunter Rialé, who created the Tenkodogo kingdom in the village they founded. Ouédraogo's descendant Oubri moved further west, conquered Kombemtinga, the center of the Nyonyonsé, and renamed it Wogodogo, later Ouagadougou. He made himself Moogho Naaba of the Ouagadougou Empire and founded the Oubritenga dynasty. To the north, the Yatenga Empire came into being .

Ruling system

Naaba Zomb Wobgo, one of the Mossi kings under the Moogho Naaba, with members of his court orchestra. Left two large kettle drums binha , right two double-headed hourglass drums lunga with variable pitch.

To this day, the ruler of Ouagadougou is the Moogho Naaba ( Emperor ), who no longer has any power, but is still regarded as the spiritual and moral head of the Mossi. He is subordinate to a strictly hierarchically organized court, directly below him are the five advisory ministers, each of whom is assigned an area of ​​responsibility. These nanamse (plural of naaba ) each had their seat in one of the surrounding villages, which are now districts of the modern city of Ouagadougou. The Ouidi Naaba from Ouidi is the first advisor to the Moogho Naaba and responsible for questions relating to the succession, as well as the chief of the cavalry. The chief of the armed forces is Larlé Naaba from Larlé , who is also the guardian of the tombs. The Goung Naaba from Gounghin is responsible for the defense ; he is responsible for the infantry, including the archers. In Bilbalogho has Baloum Naaba his seat. He is responsible intermediary between the Moogho Naaba and the lower-ranking chiefs and for the finances of the empire. The guardian of the harem is the Kamsaogh Naaba from Kamsaoghin , who has to be a eunuch and is not allowed to participate in the election for Moogho Naaba. Since there is no direct succession, the five ministers choose a successor from Moogho Naaba's sons after the death of Moogho Naaba, who takes on a new first name upon enthronement. The palace of Moogho Naaba is to the west of Ouagadougou.

Culture

Dancers of the Andemtenga dance group on the occasion of the Naaba Zomb Wobgo Nakoobo ceremony
Mossi mask, mid 20th century

Mossi families traditionally live in small, circular huts about three to four meters in diameter that are connected by a wall. The walls are made of mud bricks that are plastered with clay. Each of the up to four wives lives in their own house with their children. When the children get older, they get their own house until they get married. Rectangular buildings inside the courtyard are partly inhabited by the head of the family.

The Mossi villages are ruled by a village chief (naaba) , a teng naaba ("earth chief") is responsible for the holding of ceremonies and offerings, among other things. Griots orally pass the history of a village on to subsequent generations.

The Mossi were able to resist the spread of Islam from the north for a long time, and to this day the majority still follow the traditional faith. They call their god Wendé . Good relationships with their ancestors are important to the Mossi, and this is expressed in various rituals.

The manufacture and use of wooden masks are significant.

Known Mossi

Web links

Commons : Mossi  - collection of images, videos and audio files