It is difficult to date with precision the historical origins of joking relationships. As we say in some African languages, it is a “born to find” phenomenon (traditions received from the ancestors). The different alliances were developed through time and cohabitation between the different social groups. Therefore, it appears that each joking relationship has its own context and history. They are sometimes linked to common historical events.

Moreover, the origins of the joking relationships between two ethnic groups may vary and is sometimes linked to a specific event, most of the time “difficult” to check. The following example tells us the origins of joking relationships between the Mossi ⁽¹⁾ and the San ⁽²⁾

 “The Mossi came from Ghana. One of them got lost. A San found him near a river and took him back to his friends in the bush. Then, The San invited the Mossi to come to Ouagadougou (now the capital city of Burkina Faso) that used to belong to them. Later, the Mossi proved to be “thieves”. In order to dominate them, “we told our little brothers, the Bisa ⁽³⁾, to settle on the way to Ghana, and then We settled on the way to Mali”. The aim was to avoid the Mossi to have access other areas to practise their favorite game, theft.” ⁽⁴⁾

It is since then that the San and the Mossi have always treated each other as “thieves”.

NB: The Bisa and the San consider each other as “cousins”. A Bisa would defend a San if the latter is “attacked” by a Mossi in a situation of joking relationship.

NB: The way this legend is told automatically makes you imagine that it was told by a San!!! Therefore, it is obvious that the Mossi would have their own version of the story!!!

(1): The Mossi represent the major ethnic group of Burkina Faso (more than 40%). They are located in the centre of the country and on the “Plateau Mossi”

(2): The San or Samo are a minority group located in the North-West of Burkina Faso

(3): The Bissa are another minority group located in the East-Centre of the Burkina Faso

(4):translated from Alliance et parentés à plaisanteries au Burkina Faso, Mécanisme de fonctionnement et avenir, Alain Joseph SISSAO 2002, Sankofa et Gurli Edition)