Introduction

Situated in the heart of West Africa, Burkina Faso is made up of sixty ethnic groups who live together through multiform exchanges and function harmoniously. However, the advent of the security crisis is tending to weaken the social fabric, making cohabitation difficult. For this reason, joking kinship is becoming increasingly popular as a means of consolidating ties between different communities.

Joking kinship is a social practice practiced between ethnolinguistic communities to promote fraternity, solidarity and conviviality. It takes the form of a verbal and gestural game characterized by teasing in the form of insults. It usually takes place between two individuals or groups of individuals belonging to two different communities. It is common between “Mossi and Samo”, “Bissa and Gurunsi”, “Senoufo, Dagara and Lobi”, “Bobo and Peulh”. For example, the “Mossi” ethnic groups treat the “Samo” as thieves of “zoom kom”, a local drink that is the speciality of the “Mossi”. These exchanges often result from an ancestral pact forbidding conflict or war between the communities in question, and implying that its members must love and assist each other when necessary. Indeed, through entertainment, joking kinship uses kinship ties to play down chaotic situations and play on know-how to let people know what was or what is. It’s also an effective way of valorizing different cultures and combating all forms of stigmatization and discrimination.

An opportunity to integrate internally displaced persons

Insecurity in the country is forcing people to move from their localities to towns they consider peaceful. Joking kinship is a great asset for their social integration, as it reveals a shared experience and a common history. It creates a spirit of patriotism. This, in turn, helps to develop solidarity and mutual aid initiatives, build trust and break the ice between indigenous populations and internally displaced persons. This symbiosis between ethnic groups is a means of cultivating a climate of love and living in a peaceful environment.

Conclusion

Joking kinship is a cultural value perpetuated from generation to generation in Burkina Faso. It’s a practice that not only values cultural diversity but also promotes good relations between different peoples. It is therefore a lever for development, in the sense that it contributes to the building of a peaceful and united nation.