Senoufo

The Senoufo, also spelled Senufo or Senufu, are an ethnolinguistic group of West Africa, concentrated in northern Ivory Coast with smaller communities in southern Mali and Burkina Faso. They form a diverse set of communities that share linguistic and cultural ties.

They speak Senufo languages, a cluster within the Niger-Congo language family. The group includes several subgroups and dialects, each with its own customs, patterns of dress, and artistic expressions, yet they recognize a common Senufo identity.

Art and material culture are among the most widely noted aspects of Senoufo society. They are renowned for woodcarving, especially helmet masks and figurative sculptures, which play central roles in ceremonial life, rites of passage, and the representation of forest spirits and ancestors. Masks and carved objects are produced for local use and have attracted interest from collectors and scholars worldwide.

Social life is traditionally organized around villages and kin-group systems, with initiation and secret societies guiding rites, learning, and community norms. Traditional belief systems emphasize the presence of ancestral and spirit forces, often combined with Islam and Christianity in contemporary communities. Ritual specialists and artisans are typically respected for their roles in keeping knowledge of song, dance, and craft.

Economically, many Senoufo practice agriculture, growing crops such as yams, millet, sorghum, and groundnuts, while others engage in crafts, trade, and seasonal labor. In the modern era, they participate in broader regional economies and maintain cultural traditions through festivals, markets, and continued artistic production.