The Senufo are a ethnic group of hotly debated linguistic classification straddling western Burkina Faso, southern Mali, and northern Côte d'Ivoire with an isolated population in northwestern Ghana. Well known for their craftsmanship in the art of wood carving, Senufo have lived in small villages for many hundreds of years perfecting their art. In common with other Sahelian ethnicities, Senufo society is organized into four corporate groupings or castes based on profession.
Sitting at a crossroads between Sahelian empires and Guinea kingdoms was both a blessing and a curse for the Senufo. On the one hand, they had access to the wealth of the Sahelians who traded with the Muslim world as well as the Guineans who traded with the Western world. On the other hand, they were often the crossroads of expanding powers from the Manding peoples to the Northwest to the Akan of the Southeast. Senufo captives could often find themselves in the slave markets of the Maghreb or sometimes the Americas. In the early modern period, the Senufo would establish the Kénédougou kingdom which had become strong enough to compete with its neighbors on equal footing, albeit with significant pressure from the Muslim powers to their north.
Unlike most of their neighbors, the bulk of Senufo people continue to practice their traditional religion rather than Islam or Christianity. The four principal societies of Senufo religion include the regionally prominent Poro & Sande ("Sandogo" in Senufo) societies of Mande origin as well as the Wambele society of wizards and Tyekpa society which is characterized by funerary customs. Senufo traditional beliefs center on maintaining harmony between the living and the dead, male and female, heaven and earth, bush and village, and more.
Senufo Mythology contains examples of
- Cooked to Death: In one tale, Fo bathes in boiling water set out by Telegoro on the guidance of an old woman who saw that he was no man, but a python.
- Divine Birds: The Yellow-casqued hornbill or "Poropianong" was the first animal to descend to earth, spreading the seeds of life across the land at the behest of the creator god Kolotyolo. Among other things, Poropianong is recognized as a symbol of wisdom and the perfect polarity between male with female.
- Divine Punishment: The Madebele were originally made by the creator god Kolocolo and lived a serene existence until in their hubris they believed they were as great as he. In retaliation for demanding the right to create new worlds, Kolocolo cursed them to remain on earth after they died.
- Engagement Challenge: A beautiful young lady named Telegoro once declared that only the man as tall as her giant staff could marry her. Fo decided to try his luck with her.
- The Fair Folk: The Madebele are bush spirits who resemble little humans with backwards feet, large heads, stubby legs, big feet, and exaggerated genitals. They are usually invisible to humans. The Madebele largely live life similar to ordinary humans but in the bush, where mankind forced them over time. These creatures are fond of music, dance, and beautiful art. The Madebele enlisted dark wizards to help them wrestle control of earth back from mankind with foul things like sickness, war, and suffering. But their efforts were in vain. Nowadays the Madebele restrict themselves to the wilderness, only venturing into human settlements at night on errands. Madebele are capricious and wily beings, sometimes helping and sometimes harming humans depending on the disposition of either. Some people reach out to them for direct magical aid or to use them as mediums with the more powerful spirits.
- The chiefs of the Madebele are hairy spirits known as the Madenyudo.
- Making a Splash: Solo the turtle is associated with water and the primordial world.
- Never Smile at a Crocodile: Wotyon is the symbol of force, aggression, and wickedness. However, crocodile imagery is also used to magically protect people and property from dark forces.
- Snakes Are Sexy: Fo once shapeshifted into an astoundingly handsome man to seduce Telegoro. She quickly fell for him.
- Snakes Are Sinister: Averted with Fo the python. Pythons were considered divine messengers and benefactors of mankind. Fo was one of the first beings to arrive on earth.
- Voluntary Shapeshifting: This ability was a trademark of Fo, Gberi the Chameleon, and the Deebele.
