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55-525: Mossi leaders travel to the compound of the Moro-Naba chief. They are seated by rank for the Moro-Naba's appearance. The Moro-Naba wears red and appears with a horse as if prepared for war. A cannon fires, the most senior chiefs pledge allegiance , and the Moro-Naba leaves before reappearing in white, as if making peace . Doolo, the traditional beer , and kola nut drinks are distributed, after which

110-622: A glorious past interested W.E.B. Du Bois in Frobenius' other writings on Africa. Rudolf Blind's translation in English of the Voice of Africa, published by Hutchinson & Co., produced some racist comments he thought necessary to conform with English sensitivities — otherwise he believed no Englishman would consider the book realistic. An important contribution was made in the 1960s by the historian Elliott P. Skinner , who wrote at length about

165-701: A government counterattack, a total of 176 hostages were released the morning after the initial attack. Three of the perpetrators were also killed. The jihadist insurgency continued with major attacks in 2017 and 2018 . Ouagadougou's climate is hot semi-arid ( BSh ) under Köppen-Geiger classification , and closely borders with tropical wet and dry ( Aw ). The city is part of the Sudano-Sahelian area, with annual rainfall of about 800 mm (31 in). The rainy season stretches from May to September, with an average temperature of 28 °C (82.4 °F). The cool season runs from October to February, with

220-595: A green space that was renovated in 1996, is a symbol of the twin-city relationship between Ouagadougou and Loudun in France. It is situated in the centre of the city, near the "Nation Unies' crossroads". There are a number of cultural and art venues, such as the Maison du Peuple and Salle des Banquets, in addition to performances of many genres of music, including traditional folk music, modern music, and rap . Several international festivals and activities are organized within

275-482: A minimum average temperature of 16 °C (60.8 °F). The maximum temperature during the hot season, which runs from March to April, can reach 43 °C (109.4 °F). The harmattan (a dry wind) and the West African Monsoon are the two main factors that determine Ouagadougou's climate. Being further north, Ouagadougou's warmest months are slightly hotter and drier than those of Bobo-Dioulasso ,

330-466: A wide array of sports, including association football, basketball, and volleyball. There are tournaments and activities organized by the local authorities. The Stade du 4-Août is the home of Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou , the city's main football team. Ouagadougou has both state and private hospitals. The two state hospitals in the city are the Centre hospitalier national Yalgado Ouedraogo (CHNYO) and

385-455: Is twinned with: The Bangr-Weoogo urban park (area: 2.63 km (1 sq mi)), before colonialism, belonged to the Mosse chiefs. Considering it a sacred forest, many went there for traditional initiations or for refuge. The French colonists, disregarding its local significance and history, established it as a park in the 1930s. In 1985, renovations were done in the park. In January 2001,

440-556: Is based on industry and commerce. Some industrial facilities have relocated from Bobo-Dioulasso to Ouagadougou, which has made the city an important industrial centre of Burkina Faso. The industrial areas of Kossodo and Gounghin are home to several processing plants and factories. The industry of Ouagadougou is sector that fuels urban growth, as people move to the city from the countryside to find employment in industry. The Copromof workshop in Ouagadougou sews cotton lingerie for

495-477: Is connected by passenger rail service to Bobo-Dioulasso , Koudougou and Ivory Coast . As of June 2014, Sitarail operates a passenger train three times a week along the route from Ouagadougou to Abidjan. There are freight services to Kaya in the north of Burkina Faso and in 2014 plans were announced to revive freight services to the Manganese mine at Tambao starting in 2016. The economy of Ouagadougou

550-458: Is essential for the family settlement. Family is an essential cultural element of the Mossi, who hold collectivism in high regard. Individualism does not exist in traditional Mossi culture: one's actions and behaviors are always taken to be characteristics of one's family. They must always ask an elder in order to do something. As a result, all are expected to act in their family's name; thus,

605-522: Is impossible to assign precise origin dates. Nevertheless, historians assign the beginning of their existence as a state to the 11th century. The Mossi were able to conquer a vast amounts of territory thanks to their mastering of the horse, created a prosperous empire, and kept peace in the region until the Mossi Kingdoms were conquered by the French. The expansion of the Mossi empire was stopped in

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660-510: Is largely because Ouagadougou constitutes a 'cultural centre' by merit of holding the SIAO (International Arts and Crafts fair) and the FESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou). Moreover, the villages' growing affluence allows for such investment, and the population's rapid growth necessitates it. Though literacy in Ouagadougou is not high, there are three universities in

715-496: Is served by an international airport and is linked by rail to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast and, for freight only, to Kaya . There are several highways linking the city to Niamey , Niger , south to Ghana, and southwest to Ivory Coast . Ouagadougou has one of West Africa's largest markets, which burned down in 2003 and has since reopened with better facilities and improved fire-prevention measures. Other attractions include

770-466: Is widespread and concentrated around markets and major roads, as well as in outlets in neighborhoods. There are also instances of modern economic practices with workplaces having qualified, stable labor forces, or more traditional forms of business such as family businesses. The tertiary sector is also an important part of the economy. This comprises communications, banking, transport, bars, restaurants, hotels, as well as administrative jobs. Ouagadougou

825-702: The Mooré language , of the Western Oti-Volta group of languages, northwestern sub-group. It is spoken in Burkina Faso , Ghana , and Ivory Coast . This language group is part of a larger grouping, Gur languages belonging to the Niger–Congo family. In the language there are a few dialects based mainly on region. For example, there is a dialect spoken in Yatenga ( Ouahigouya ), another distinct dialect in

880-541: The 14th century, conquered Wagadugu around the same time they raided Walata , contributing to the decline of the Mali Empire . According to legend, the city was taken by Oubri, a grandson of Ouedraogo . The eponymous Wagadugu Kingdom was founded in the 15th century, which became the main center of the Mossi States around 1495. The 10th Moro Naba, Nyadfo, was the first Moro-Naba to live at Ouagadougou, in

935-541: The 19th century with the initiation of intensive colonisation by the French. French rule affected Mossi society and weakened the power of the Mossi emperor , the Mogho Naaba . Despite colonization, the Mogho Naaba was given some authority over the Mossi during the French colonial period. He is consulted today for crucial decisions, especially those affecting the destiny of society. Two great events have affected

990-530: The Centre hospitalier national pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle (CHNP-CDG). Despite that, the local population still largely can only afford traditional local medicine and the "pharmacopée". Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou (code OUA) serves the area with flights to West Africa and Europe . Air Burkina has its head office in the Air Burkina Storey Building (French: Immeuble Air Burkina ) in Ouagadougou. Ouagadougou

1045-497: The French label "Atelier Augusti." Ouagadougou is an important commercial centre. It is a centre where goods are collected and directed to rural areas. With a large consumer base, large amounts of energy sources, raw materials for buildings, agricultural products and livestock products are imported to the city. The economy is dominated by the informal sector , which is characterized by petty commodity production, and workers not necessarily having salaries. Traditional, informal trade

1100-512: The Mogho Naaba's family. The Nakomse are often assigned territories in the kingdom as governorships and rule in the name of the Mogho Naaba. As in the past, the Mogho Naaba needs the support of the “ancient ones”, his Nyon-nyonse (or gnon-gnon-sse ) subjects to fully exercise his power. The Nyon-nyonse are the peoples who lived in Mossi-controlled regions before the Mossi. Mossi society is divided vertically into two major segments:

1155-509: The Moro Naba's sister fled north to the land of Yadega, the kingdom called Yatenga. As she fled north, she carried all of the amulets of power, or nam , with her. The Moro Naba had to decide whether to follow her and retrieve his sacred power objects or to remain behind to rule over his people. Three times he left his palace to mount a white horse, and three times he returned to the palace. In the end he did not pursue his sister, and to this day

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1210-553: The Moro-Naba holds court. The ceremony is said to represent the Moro-Naba's ministers dissuading him from going to war. This Burkina Faso -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Mossi people The Mossi are a Gur ethnic group native to modern Burkina Faso , primarily the Volta River basin. The Mossi are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, constituting 52% of

1265-964: The National Museum of Burkina Faso, the Moro-Naba Palace (site of the Moro-Naba Ceremony ), the National Museum of Music , and several craft markets. Ouagadougou was founded possibly as early as 1050 CE by the Soninke Wangara diaspora from the Ghana Empire , also known as Wagadu. The name Wagadugu means 'home of the Wagu', the Soninke subgroup that ruled Ghana. Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of this name. The Mossi people , moving north in

1320-543: The Upper East Region of Ghana. The story has it that while exploring her kingdom on horseback, she lost her way and was rescued by Rialé, a solitary Mandé hunter. They got married and gave birth to a son, Ouedraogo , who is recognised as the father of Mossi people. Though Mossi records exist, primarily written using the Ajami script, the Mossi people's history has largely been kept by oral tradition. This means it

1375-501: The administrative, communications, cultural and economic centre of the nation. It is also the country's largest city , with a population of 2,415,266 in 2019. The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga . The inhabitants are called ouagalais . The spelling of the name Ouagadougou is derived from the French orthography common in former French African colonies . Ouagadougou's primary industries are food processing and textiles . It

1430-419: The ancestors that proper procedures are carried out. They appear at funeral or memorial services held at regular intervals over the few years after an elder has died. Masks attend to honor the deceased and to verify that the spirit of the deceased merits admission into the world of ancestors. Without a proper funeral, the spirit remains near the home and causes trouble for his/her descendants. Masks are carved of

1485-463: The city. The largest is the state University of Ouagadougou , which was founded in 1974. In 2010 it had around 40,000 students (83% of the national population of university students). The city's official language is French and the principal local languages are More , Dyula and Fulfulde . The bilingual program in schools (French plus one of the local languages) was established in 1994. International schools include: Ouagadougou's inhabitants play

1540-597: The colonial administration made Ouagadougou the capital of the Upper Volta territory, extensively rebuilding the town. In 1954 the railroad line from Ivory Coast reached the city, spurring massive population growth. On 15 January 2016, gunmen armed with heavy weapons attacked central Ouagadougou at the Cappuccino restaurant and the Splendid Hotel. 28 people were killed, and at least 56 wounded; after

1595-430: The country's second most populous city. Ouagadougou's first municipal elections were held in 1956. The city is divided into five arrondissements , consisting of 30 sectors, which are subdivided into districts. Districts of Ouagadougou include Gounghin, Kamsaoghin, Koulouba, Moemmin, Niogsin, Paspanga, Peuloghin, Bilbalogho, and Tiendpalogo. Ouagadougou's communes have invested in huge city-management projects. This

1650-480: The descendants of the horsemen who conquered the peoples on the Mossi plateau are called the Nakomse , and all Mossi Napa's (kings) come exclusively from the Nakomse class. These people use figures as political art to validate their rule over the peoples they conquered. The descendants of the ancient farming peoples who had occupied the land from the beginning of time and who, by right of first occupation, were and are

1705-531: The differences between the Nakomsé and the Tengabisi are striking; only the Tengabisi use masks, and only the Nakomsé use figures in the context of political celebrations. The Nakomse are the political class, and the Tengabisi are the spiritual class. The highest position in Mossi society is that of the Mogho Naaba, who is given executive power. The Mogho Naaba's role is to rule the entire population and to protect

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1760-502: The estimated population of Burkina Faso was 20M+, over 11M of which are Mossi. Another 2 million Mossi live in Côte d'Ivoire. According to oral tradition, the Mossi come from the marriage of a Mamprusi/Dagomba princess, Yennenga, and a Mandé hunter. Yennenga was a warrior princess, daughter of a king, Naa Gbewaa , of present-day northern Ghana . Gbewaa's tomb is located in Pusiga in

1815-486: The ethnic group. Ancestors are believed to have reached a better world from which they can influence life on earth. They can help or punish their descendants depending on their behavior. Ancestors are also the judges that have the power to allow a descendant to enter the "pantheon of the ancestors". If an ancestor chooses to deny entrance, the soul of the disavowed one is condemned to run at random for all eternity. Because of these beliefs, Mossi swear by their ancestors or by

1870-407: The family is the smallest entity in the Mossi society. Heritage is patrilineal, passed down from a father to his sons. However, when a man has no sons, women can inherit from their husbands and even from their father. Hierarchy is a fundamental concept for the Mossi and pervasive in their culture. The family is organised like a kingdom with its king — the husband and father, his advisor —

1925-507: The fiber of the wild hemp, Hibiscus cannabinus . In the old days only the northern Nyonyose in Yatenga and Kaya, and the eastern people around Boulsa allowed their masks to be photographed. The people in the southwest forbade photography because it did not conform to the yaaba soore , the path of the ancestors. Mask characters include Balinga, the Fulani woman; katre , the hyena; nyaka ,

1980-587: The heads of each household in the community reaffirm their allegiance and loyalty to the chief. The Nyonyose (the ancient farmers and spiritual segment of Mossi society) use masks in their religious observances and rituals. The Nakomse (chief class) do not use masks. Masks in initiations and funerals is typical of all the Voltaic or Gur-speaking peoples, including the Nyonyose, Lela, Winiama, Nouna, Bwaba, and Dogon. Masks appear at burials to observe on behalf of

2035-450: The key elements. The Mossi people are very heterogeneous. When horsemen invaded from the south they created a political or ruling class, called Nakomse (sing. Nakoambga), and a spiritual class called Tengabisi. All chiefs come from the ruling class. The Tengabisi include Saya (smiths), Nyonyose (farmers), Yarse (weavers and merchants), and others. The origins of the Nyonyose are diverse: In the north their ancestors were Dogon and Kurumba, in

2090-666: The kingdom. Today, he lives in Ouagadougou , the historical capital of the Mossi Empire and present capital of Burkina Faso . Though the political dynamic of the country has changed, the Mogho Naaba is recognised by his people and has substantial authority. Second to the Mogho Naaba come the nobles, Nakomse (“people of power”; sing. Nakoambga), who all are from the family of the Mogho Naaba, whether they be brothers, sisters, cousins, or otherwise. All dignitaries come from

2145-487: The kings of Yatenga claim that they hold the power of Mossi rule. The political segment of Mossi society, the Nakomse (sing. Nakoambga), use art to validate their rule. Bridles, saddles, stirrups and other objects associated with the horse are very important. In addition, Mossi chiefs use carved wooden figures to represent their royal ancestors. These figures are displayed each year at royal festivals called na possum, when

2200-425: The land; when they do so (which only occurs in extreme situations), it is more than symbolic — it is a call to imminent justice. Land is related to the ancestors, being a path by which one can access the ancestors. Even today, this notion gives a unique value to land in Mossi thought. Land is considered to be much more than simple dust and has a spiritual dimension to it. A Mossi's life depends on his/her land, and it

2255-403: The masks to this day. Masks are very sacred and are a link to the spirits of ancestors and of nature. Ouagadougou Ouagadougou or Wagadugu ( / ˌ w ɑː ɡ ə ˈ d uː ɡ uː / , Mossi : Waogdgo Mossi: [ˈwɔɣədəɣʊ] , Dyula : Wagadugu , French : Ouagadougou French: [waɡaduɡu] ) is the capital of Burkina Faso , and

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2310-409: The middle of the 17th century. It became the permanent capital under the 21st Moro Naba, Zombre, a century later. The Moro-Naba Ceremony is still performed every Friday by the Moro-Naba and his court. The 24th Moro Naba, Doulougou, built the first mosque in Ouagadougou early in the nineteenth century. On September 5th 1896 French forces entered Ouagadougou and burned the city to the ground. In 1919

2365-620: The municipality, such as FESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou), which is Africa's largest festival of this type, SIAO (International Art and Craft Fair), FESPAM (Pan-African Music Festival), FITMO (International Theatre and Marionnette Festival) and FESTIVO. The most common places of worship are Muslim mosques. There are also numerous Christian churches: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ouagadougou ( Catholic Church ), Association of Reformed Evangelical Church of Burkina Faso ( World Communion of Reformed Churches ), Assemblies of God , Deeper Life Bible Church , and

2420-518: The northern region, a third in the southeast in Koupela , different from a fourth dialect in the same region called Tenkodogo . Despite these regional differences, the dialects are mutually intelligible . According to the explanations of Marie Tapsoba, the former Cultural Counsellor at Burkina Embassy in Senegal and Mossi herself, Mossi culture can be divided into four main values characteristic of

2475-776: The notion of hierarchy for the Mossi. 'Mogonaba' was what Leo Frobenius was told was the appropriate term for the emperor of Mossi at Wagadugu when he visited the country in 1904–6. His is one of the few disinterested reports as he was an anthropologist and not a missionary, representative of a European company, or military. He describes a court much like a European one (he may have an anti-aristocratic bias) with nobles in intrigues over commerce, power and industry. This report alone caused disbelief in Europe as no European source had ever considered Africans to be socially like Europeans. The lack of racism in Frobenius' report and his discovery of an industrious people and what some would describe as

2530-512: The owners of the land are called the Tengabisi (“people of the earth”). These Tengabisi can be further divided into groups of smiths ( Saya ), groups of traders ( Yarse ) and, most important, groups of farmers ( Nyonyose ). Generally the smiths and the traders do not use masks, but the Nyonyose are the principal makers and users of masks in Mossi society. They constitute the larger part of

2585-481: The park was renamed "Parc Urbain Bangr-Weoogo", meaning "the urban park of the forest of knowledge". Another notable park in Ouagadougou is the "L'Unité Pédagogique", which shelters animals in a semi-free state. This botanic garden/biosphere system stretches over 8 ha (20 acres) and also serves as a museum for the country's history. "Jardin de l'amitié Ouaga-Loudun" (Garden of Ouaga-Loudun Friendship), with

2640-418: The population and are all subjects of the emperor. These two groups are generally fused but have internal subdivisions, each one having its own ruling family; they perform ceremonies and other important events. Mossi people often identify with groups; hence, at all levels, there is a hierarchy in Mossi society. In everyday life, the family hierarchy is most important, and family is often directly associated with

2695-535: The population, or about 11.1 million people. The other 48% of Burkina Faso's population is composed of more than 60 ethnic groups, mainly the Gurunsi , Senufo , Lobi , Bobo , Bissa and Fulani . The Mossi speak the Mòoré language . The Mossi people originated in Burkina Faso, although significant numbers of Mossi live in neighboring countries, including Benin , Côte d'Ivoire , Ghana , Mali , and Togo . In 2022,

2750-532: The small antelope; Wan pelega, the large antelope, and many others. Masks from all three areas appear at annual public festivals such as International Art & Craft Fair ( Salon international de l’Artisanat de Ouagadougou or SIAO), Week of the Culture , and the Atypical Nights of Koudougou ( Les Nuits Atypiques de Koudougou ). Each Nyonyose family has its own mask, and they are charged with protecting

2805-611: The sophistication of Mossi political systems in The Mossi of the Upper Volta: The Political Development of a Sudanese People. This was at a time when many African countries were gaining independence, and Skinner strongly made the point that African peoples were very clearly qualified to govern themselves. Group identity and values within the Mossi and contrasted against other ethnic groups are tied first and foremost to language . The Mossi speak

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2860-504: The southwest their ancestors were Lela, Nuna, Sisala and others, and in the far east they were Gurmantche. These people were united into a new ethnicity called Mossi in about 1500. It is a mistake to describe a "Nyonyosé tribe" or the "art of the Nyonyosé" because the Nyonyose do not exist outside Mossi society. All Nyonyosé are Mossi. At the same time, it is a mistake to assume that all segments of Mossi society are culturally identical, for

2915-475: The status of the Mogho Naaba during colonization: The Mossi and several other peoples played a significant role in France's military during World War II . They constituted part of the corps in the military troops of French West Africa, known in French as the Tirailleurs Sénégalais . The Mossi people have organised their society in an original hierarchic process in which family and state are

2970-418: The wife, and the people — the children. Aunts and uncles play a role by helping in the education and raising of children. Ceremonies and celebrations pace the life of Mossi people, with each celebration having its particulars. Through them the community expresses joy or suffering, or simply fulfills duties to the memory of the ancestors. The Friday Mogho Naaba court ceremony derives from an event when

3025-472: The wood of the Ceiba pentandra , the faux kapokier. They are carved in three major styles that correspond to the styles of the ancient people who were conquered in 1500 by the invading Nakomse and integrated into a new Mossi society: Female masks have two pairs of round mirrors for eyes; small masks, representing Yali ("the child") have two vertical horns. All Nyonyose masks are worn with thick costumes made of

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