Literature of Burkina Faso
Encyclopedia
Burkinabé literature was originally based around oral tradition
. This remains important. In 1934, during French
occupation, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo published his Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi (Maximes, Thoughts and Riddles of the Mossi), a record of the oral history of the Mossi people. The oral tradition continued to have an influence on Burkinabé writers in the post-independence Burkina Faso of the 1960s, such as Nazi Boni
and Roger Nikiema. The 1960s saw a growth in the number of playwright
s being published. Since the 1970s, literature has developed in Burkina Faso with many more writers being published.
, written literature was virtually absent in Burkina Faso, like much of Africa. The oral tradition has always been important to the many ethnic groups, sustaining the cultural diversity of the country. Culture has been transmitted orally through music and dance. This has been described by Titinga Frédéric Pacéré in his 1992 book Le language des tam-tams et des masques Afrique, emphasising the importance in many of Burkina Faso's ethnic groups of griot
s, and the older members of the communities.
In 1934, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo wrote his book Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi (Maximes, Thoughts and Riddles of the Mossi), recording the oral history of the Mossi kingdom which gave rise to Burkina Faso.
, published in 1962. Boni was an important political figure in his country's independence and political issues informed his writing. His novel explores the traditions of the Bwamu people and has been called an "ethnographic
novel". The second Burkinabé novel was Roger Nikiema's 1967 book Dessein contraire.
During the 1960s, there was also a proliferation of theatre works. Playwright
s that became prominent in this time included Ouamdégré Ouedraogo with L'avare Moaga: comédie des moeurs (Miser Moaga: a Comedy of Manners), Pierre Dabiré with Sansoa and Moussa Savadogo
with Fille de le Volta (Daughter of the Volta) and L'oracle (The Oracle).
In the 1970s, the next generation of Burkinabé novelists included Augustin-Sondé Coulibaly, Kollin Noaga and Etienne Sawadogo. More recent writers include Jacques Prosper Bazié, Ansomwin Ignace Hien, Jean-Baptiste Somé, Pierre Claver Ilboudo and Norbert Zongo
. From the 1980s, women writers in Burkina Faso began to be published including Pierrette Sandra Kanzié, Bernadette Dao, Angèle Bassolé Ouédraogo, Gaël Koné, Monique Ilboudo, Suzy Henrique Nikiéma, Sarah Bouyain
and Adiza Sanoussi. A particularly noted writer has been Frédéric Pacéré Titinga
.
Oral tradition
Oral tradition and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants...
. This remains important. In 1934, during French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
occupation, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo published his Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi (Maximes, Thoughts and Riddles of the Mossi), a record of the oral history of the Mossi people. The oral tradition continued to have an influence on Burkinabé writers in the post-independence Burkina Faso of the 1960s, such as Nazi Boni
Nazi Boni
Nazi Boni was a politician from Upper Volta . In 1951 Boni was elected to the French National Assembly on behalf of the Voltaic Union. In 1955 Boni founded the African Popular Movement after a split from the UV...
and Roger Nikiema. The 1960s saw a growth in the number of playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
s being published. Since the 1970s, literature has developed in Burkina Faso with many more writers being published.
Early literature and colonial times
Prior to colonisationColonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
, written literature was virtually absent in Burkina Faso, like much of Africa. The oral tradition has always been important to the many ethnic groups, sustaining the cultural diversity of the country. Culture has been transmitted orally through music and dance. This has been described by Titinga Frédéric Pacéré in his 1992 book Le language des tam-tams et des masques Afrique, emphasising the importance in many of Burkina Faso's ethnic groups of griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
s, and the older members of the communities.
In 1934, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo wrote his book Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi (Maximes, Thoughts and Riddles of the Mossi), recording the oral history of the Mossi kingdom which gave rise to Burkina Faso.
Post-independence
The first novel by a Burkinabé writer was Crépuscule des temps anciens (The Dawn of Ancient Times or The Twilight of the Bygone Days) by Nazi BoniNazi Boni
Nazi Boni was a politician from Upper Volta . In 1951 Boni was elected to the French National Assembly on behalf of the Voltaic Union. In 1955 Boni founded the African Popular Movement after a split from the UV...
, published in 1962. Boni was an important political figure in his country's independence and political issues informed his writing. His novel explores the traditions of the Bwamu people and has been called an "ethnographic
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
novel". The second Burkinabé novel was Roger Nikiema's 1967 book Dessein contraire.
During the 1960s, there was also a proliferation of theatre works. Playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
s that became prominent in this time included Ouamdégré Ouedraogo with L'avare Moaga: comédie des moeurs (Miser Moaga: a Comedy of Manners), Pierre Dabiré with Sansoa and Moussa Savadogo
Moussa Savadogo
Moussa Savadogo is a Burkinabé writer and playwright. He was one of the most important playwrights in Burkinabé theatre following independence and became well known throughout the 1960s and 1970s in Burkina Faso....
with Fille de le Volta (Daughter of the Volta) and L'oracle (The Oracle).
In the 1970s, the next generation of Burkinabé novelists included Augustin-Sondé Coulibaly, Kollin Noaga and Etienne Sawadogo. More recent writers include Jacques Prosper Bazié, Ansomwin Ignace Hien, Jean-Baptiste Somé, Pierre Claver Ilboudo and Norbert Zongo
Norbert Zongo
Norbert Zongo was the publisher and editor of the Burkina Faso newspaper l'Indépendant. He was assassinated after his newspaper began investigating the murder of a driver who had worked for the brother of President Blaise Compaoré.On December 13, 1998, Zongo's burned body was found along with...
. From the 1980s, women writers in Burkina Faso began to be published including Pierrette Sandra Kanzié, Bernadette Dao, Angèle Bassolé Ouédraogo, Gaël Koné, Monique Ilboudo, Suzy Henrique Nikiéma, Sarah Bouyain
Sarah Bouyain
Sarah Bouyain is a French-Burkinabé writer and film director.-Biography:Bouyain's mother, who was French, and her father, who was half Burkinabé and half French, met in France while he was studying there....
and Adiza Sanoussi. A particularly noted writer has been Frédéric Pacéré Titinga
Frédéric Pacéré Titinga
Titinga Frédéric Pacéré is a Burkinabé solicitor, writer, poet and griot and founder and curator of the Musée de Manega museum in Burkino Faso. He studied in Abidjan...
.
See also
- Francophone literatureFrancophone literatureFrancophone literature is literature written in the French language. Most often the term is misused to refer only to literature from francophone countries outside France, but this category includes French Literature, or Literature of France, that is literature written by French authors...
- List of Burkinabé writers