Home » Burkina Faso » BURKINA FASO

West Africa, Malta and the Balkans in 1999

BURKINA FASO

Bec
2004-09-18 19:51:46

Displayed times (last time: )

small amounts of money were distributed by the delegation leader to each member of the bride's family in amounts related to their respective standing. Then we all went to a holy place where the village "guérisseur" or shaman introduced the the delegation to the ancestors of the bride's family and vice versa. Red millet beer was a liberally passed around during these proceedings and the initially cold atmosphere grew warmer and warmer as the evening wore on.

The ceremonies ended with excellent dinner of chicken, rice and various sauces offered by the bride's family in a happy atmosphere of genuine friendliness. The whole event had been so much related to the establishment of an alliance between the two families that I would be at the loss to tell you who were the groom and bride. As a matter of fact they had been living together for couple of years without even a civil marriage!

I consider that it was a great privilege for me to participate and am thankful to Silamana for having given me this experience. The whole affair was somewhat magical for me. Family values have almost completely disappeared in the developed western world where they have been sacrificed who the pursuit of individual "rights" and selfish "happiness". Strong family ties and traditions impose restrictions on the individual's freedom but in exchange, they provide solidarity, support and a strong sense of identity that are lacking in the lives of most westerners.

Ouagadougou
I had another interesting contact in Ouaga, Saidou Ouédraogo seen on the right of this photo with his brother Boukaré on the left. Saidou was an example of a cultured African whose career as a successful anaesthetist had culminated in the ownership of an elegant and no doubt profitable private medical clinic. Needless to say, the contrast between the village shaman whose sincerity had impressed me and the affluent, modern, city doctor was striking!

Copyright Bernard Cloutier

All rights reserved.

Please visit my website