Senufo

The Senufo (also spelled Senoufo) are an ethnic group of West Africa, primarily inhabiting the northern and central regions of Ivory Coast, with communities in parts of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. They form one of the region’s larger cultural groups and are noted for regional diversity in language and customs.

Language and settlement: The Senufo speak Senufo languages, a branch of the Gur group within the Niger-Congo family. Their homeland spans the savanna belt north of the Ivorian forest zone, with villages organized around agricultural communities.

Social and religious life: Traditional social organization centers on village life and secret societies. The male initiation society Poro and the female association Woro oversee rites of passage, education, and community welfare. The Senufo cosmology includes belief in a supreme creator, ancestral spirits, and the concept of nyama, a spiritual force accessed in ritual and healing.

Art and culture: The Senufo are renowned for woodcarving and masks used in ceremonial life, including initiation and funerary rites. Sculptural figures, fertility statues, and elaborately carved stools are among the characteristic works collected and exhibited in museums worldwide. Textile production and weaving are also practiced.

Today: While modern states and religions shape daily life, Senufo communities maintain many traditional practices, particularly in rural areas, alongside participation in national economies, education, and urban migration.