Grand funerals of the Bôbô: Honoring the dead and celebrating unity

Africanews (in English)

Grand funerals of the Bôbô: Honoring the dead and celebrating unity  In the heart of Burkina Faso, 300 kilometers from the capital Ouagadougou, the Bôbô people uphold a rich cultural tradition: the grand funerals, a sacred ritual designed to guide the souls of the deceased to the realm of their ancestors.  READ MORE : http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/22/grand-funerals-of-the-bobo-honoring-the-dead-and-celebrating-unity  Subscribe on our Dailymotion channel and receive all the latest news from the continent.    Africanews is available in English and French.  Website : www.africanews.com  Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/  Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

Transcript

00:00Located 300 kilometers from Wagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, the Bobo people celebrate an ancient tradition, the organ funerals, a ritual to guide the souls of the deceased to the realm of the ancestors.

00:14On Sunday, April 20, the village of Kuinama, now part of Bobo de Ulaso, hosted this significant event.

00:21The gathering was large, with people surrounded by traditional fiber masks. These masks, seen as spirits from the bush, are sent to the funeral rites, performing dances accompanied by traditional instruments and war chants.

00:34For the Bobo Mandare, when someone passes away, we perform what we call fresh funerals, which is a ritual that guides the deceased to their final resting place.

00:44Afterward, we conduct the grand funerals to complete all the rites, ensuring the peaceful rest.

00:49The grand funerals are a key practice for those who follow traditional religion.

00:54The ceremonies involve prayers and worship aimed at helping the deceased's soul journey to their ancestors.

01:01There are numerous rituals involved. For the mask procession, we must perform specific rites.

01:06Relatives also participate in completing these rituals through moments of prayer and worship.

01:11If we don't follow the traditional religion, it's not possible to take part.

01:15In addition to the mask dances, the entire village transforms into a lively gathering resembling a fair.

01:24This celebration not only honors the deceased, but also serves as a powerful symbol of peace and unity within the community.

01:30For us, the grand funerals represent unity, cohesion and fraternity.

01:45People from surrounding villages near Bobo come to join us in the celebration.

01:51An integral part of the Bobo Grand Funerals, the mask is believed to guide the deceased's soul towards ancestors,

02:04following the deep-rooted beliefs of the Bobo community.

02:07We are now in front of the monoculture.

02:24Thanks for tuning in.

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