Senufo
Location: The Senufo live in northern Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. They are comprised of a number of diverse subgroups who migrated into their current location from the north during the 15th and 16th centuries. Unlike their neighbors to the north, they have remained relatively sheltered from intrusive cultures including the Songhai and Hausa. They have not had to fear constant attacks and social upheaval.
Population: 600,000
Language: Senufo (Voltaic)
Senufo agriculture includes millet, sorghum, maize, rice, and yams. They also grow bananas, manioc, and a host of other crops. They raise small farm animals such as sheep, goats, chicken, guinea fowl, and dogs. The Senufo believe in a god Koulotiol, creator of the world. The mother of the village, Katie-Leo, regenerates the world and redeems humankind. The Sandogo, a women's association in charge of divination, is responsible for contact with the bush spirits who might be bothered by the activities of the hunt, farming or artisans.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on the Senufo.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.
If you are Senufo, your feedback is much appreciated.
Resources
"The Jembetat Gallery of African Art" The Senufo Tribe. (2002) http://www.jembetat.com/tribe.cfm?tribe=senufo.
"Art and life in Africa" Senufo Information http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Senufo.html.
