The Insider and the Ethnography of Secrecy: Challenges of Collecting Data on Fearful Komo of the Tagwa-Senufo |
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Authors: | Boureima T Diamitani |
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Institution: | (1) West African Museums Programme (WAMP), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso |
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Abstract: | As with many other ethnic groups in Africa, Senufo identity was the creation of the French colonial administration during
the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In spite of some similarities, those subgroups collectively named Senufo
by the French do not share the same artistic and traditional forms and values. For example, while the Poro association and
the art related to it are the core of the socio-religious organization of the central and southern Senufo, northern Senufo
groups do not have Poro or its associated arts. Northern Senufo groups are invested in the Komo men’s society and its associated
objects like their Mande-speaking neighbours. This is particularly true for the subgroup known as the Tagwa, which has a Komo
male secret association. The Komo is a sacred mask society with great power and authority, inaccessible to the general public,
women and non-circumcised males. This is the most important religious cult of the Tagwa, who have shaped the Komo for their
own tradition and customs. This paper describes my experience as a researcher working on sensitive topics such as secrecy
and sacred objects among my own people: the Tagwa of Burkina Faso. |
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Keywords: | |
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