Gurunsi people

De Gurunsi, anaa Grunshi, be set of related ethnic group wey dey inhabit northern Ghana den south den central Burkina Faso.

Gurunsi people

ethnic group

Country	Ghana, Burkina Faso

Gurunsi people dema building

Pre-colonial history den origins

De Gurunsi dema oral traditions dey hold say dem originate from de western Sudan wey dem pass de Sahel. While e be unknown de tym de migration occur, dem dey believe say de Gurunsi be present for dema current location by 1100AD. Following de 15th century, de tym wey dem establish de Mossi states for de north, Mossi horsemen often dey raid Gurunsi areas secof slaves, buh dem neva fully subjugate de Gurunsi peoples, wey dem remain independent.

According to Dr. Salif Titamba Lankoande, for Noms de famille (Patronymes) au Burkina Faso insyd, de name Gurunsi komot from de Djerma language of Niger words “Guru-si”, wey dey mean "iron no dey penetrate". Dem dey talk say during de Djerma invasions of Gurunsi lands for de late 19th century insyd, Djerma jihadist leader wey dem dey bell am Baba Ato Zato (better be known by de Hausa corruption of ein name: Babatu) recruit battalion of indigenous men for ein army, wey dem claim say after dem consume traditional medicines dem be invulnerable to iron. Dem set up de Zabarima Emirate wey dey within Gurunsiland, wey dey make up far northern Ghana den southern Burkina Faso.

Gurunsi ethnic groups

Dem dey use de term Gurunsi as meta term to refer to group of people wey dey relate loosely. Dem dey classify Gurunsi as ethnic group wey dem no dey share common language wey dem get distinct cultural practices. Sum of de largest Gurunsi ethnic groups be de Frafra, Nabt den Talensi for Ghana insyd as well as de Ko, Lyele, Nuni den Sisaala for Burkina Faso insyd. De sub-groups Kassena den Nankani dey inhabit both Ghana den Burkina Faso.

Art den architecture

De Kassena people be known for dema houses wey de men build den de women decorate de exterior plus geometric patterns.

Bibliography

• Bayili, Blaise. Religion, droit et pouvoir au Burkina Faso. Les Lyele du Burkina Faso. Paris: L'Harmattan, 1998.
• Duperray, Anne M. Les Gourounsi de Haute Volta. Conquête et colonisation, 1896-1933. Stuttgart: Steiner, 1984.
• Jacob, Jean-Pierre. Le sens des limites: maladie, sorcellerie, religion et pouvoir chez les Winye, Gourounsi du Burkina Faso. Neuchâtel: Faculté des lettres [Thèse de doctorat], 1988.
• Levtzion, Nehemia. Muslims and Chiefs in West Africa. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1968.
• Tauxier, Louis. Le noir du Soudan, pays mossi et gourounsi. Paris: Emile Larose, 1912.
• Tauxier, Louis. Nouvelles notes sur le Mossi et le Gourounsi. Paris: Emile Larose, 1924.

External links

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