Bwa people
The Bwa is an African society that is native to Burkina Faso. This society has an approximate population of over 300,000 persons. The Bwa people live in a number of individualized communities. They have no central government, and rely on their community standards. They are most known for their scarification and elaborate plank masks.[2]
For the Congolese Bwa people, see Boa people.History[edit]
In the 18th century, Bwa lands were occupied by the Bamana empire who made the Bwa pay taxes.[1] The places left unconquered were raided by the Bamana, which led to a weakening of the Bwa social and political systems.[3] In the 19th century, the Bamana declined and the area was dominated by the Fulani who raided and enslaved the Bwa and stole their livestock.[4][3] The end of the 19th century brought French mercenaries who used the Fulani to help control the area.[1] The Bwa traditions of storing crops for use in lean years were undermined by the crippling taxation systems of the French and they suffered further from famine from 1911–1913.[3][5] The French demanded military recruits from the Bwa and in 1915, the Bwa revolted.,[1][3] starting the Volta-Bani War. This war lasted about a year[6] and ended with the destruction of many Bwa villages.[5]
Due to these events, the Bwa turned to their neighboring people, the Nuna. Admiring what they believed to be continuous blessings, the Bwa wanted to adopt some Nuna customs in attempt to please the Nuna God. Obliging, the Nuna taught the Bwa some of their customs and practices. From this, the Bwa purchased the rights to use, wear, and carve wooden masks, their costumes, and the songs and dances that go with them.
Regional Identification[edit]
The Bwa live in central Burkina Faso and south-east Mali, between Mali's Bani River and the Mouhoun River (Black Volta) in Burkina Faso.[4] Their total population is approximately 300,000.[1] The major towns occupied by the Bwa are Houndé, Boni, Bagassi, Dossi and Pa.[4]
Early European explorers to the area called the Bwa "Bobo", confusing them with their neighbours the Bobo people.[4] Although the two groups share religion and culture, they are ethnically distinct.[5] The confusion led to alternative names for the Bwa including Bobo Oule, or Eastern Bobo.[7] In Jula, Bobo Oule means "Red Bobo". This distinguishes the Bwa from the Bobo who are called the "Black Bobo".[5]
The White Bobo, Bobo Gbe, are also Bwa.[8]
The southern Bwa became known by their neighbours as Nieniegue meaning "scarred Bwa" as a result of the tradition of scarification of their faces and bodies.[4] This practice is no longer commonplace and so the term is also in decline.[4]
Society and politics[edit]
Economy[edit]
There are three professional castes within the Bwa society: the farmers, the musicians, and the blacksmiths.
Farming has been a constant way of life for the Bwa. It is their primary source of income with their most successful crop being cotton. Besides cotton, though, the Bwa are known to harvest certain grains such as millet, rice, sorghum, yams, and peanuts.[1] These crops along with other grains and various fruits are used for both nutritional and medicinal purposes.
Music is integral to the Bwa's traditional ceremonies and rituals. While they do use drums, the Bwa are known to craft and play flutes carved from wood.
Blacksmiths in the Bwa society work mostly with bronze to craft masks, figures, utensils, and jewelry. These works can be bought and sold, used for personal use, and/or are utilized during rituals.
Culture[edit]
Language[edit]
The Bwa speak Bwa languages, a closely related group of Gur languages of the Niger–Congo family.[9] Some speak Jula (Dioula) for trading and communication with outsiders, and French is also used.[9]
Religion and mythology[edit]
The creator deity of the Bwa is known as Wuro, a god who designed the earth with the intention of establishing balance. Wuro was said to be hurt by a human, and in return, he decided to send his eldest son Dwo to act as the communication line between him and the people. Wuro had three sons: Dwo, the god of rebirth, Soxo, the god of the wilderness, and Kwere, the lightning god. Two and his significance is heavily depicted in the Boni Bwa's ceremonial leaf masks. Animism is the main religious belief practiced by the Bwa. In fact, the art work that the Bwa are known for is primarily used for animist practices—specifically that of Nuna origin.