The Mossi

The Mossi occupy the southeastern part of Burkina Faso; neighbors of the Gurunsi, they emigrated from northern Ghana in the 15th century and speak the Voltaic language.

>> Their political system is unified and powerful and over time has grown very independent, as their system of chiefs cannot act without the permission of the centralized authority.

>> Mossi sculptors are known for the polychrome masks that they carve; these are worn during funerals ceremonies and to guard the crops. These totemic masks are kept in a sacred place and are offered libations in exchange for help in matters of everyday life.

>> There exist three main styles of Mossi masks: these correspond to the geographical areas of the southwest, east and north of the Mossi Empire.

>> Mossi statuary is known for its fertility or “Biga” dolls. Statues, representing deceased chiefs are rare, as they were symbolically buried in place of the chief’s corpse, as he underwent exhumation immediately following his death.