Kaya: The Association of Namentenga Residents in Kaya (ARNK) organized a public conference on Saturday, focusing on the theme ‘History of joking kinship: practical case of Namentenga, Mane and Tema Bokin’. Led by historian Harouna Sawadogo, administrator of high schools and colleges, this meeting allowed residents of these three localities to revisit their historical ties to consolidate fraternity and social cohesion.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the joking relationship between Mane and Tema Bokin “against” Namentenga (Boulsa) dates back to before the 18th century. Boulsa, founded in the 16th century by Naaba Namende, proved invincible. At the same time, Naaba Yasme, son of Moog-Naaba Kumdumye, created Mane, with the support of his brother Naaba Yilen, founder of Tema Bokin. These powerful chiefdoms were subjugated by Risyam, a neighboring kingdom ruled by Mamzi, who imposed his chiefs and levied taxes. Boulsa then mocked Mane and Tema, before in turn submitting to Mamzi’s domination. This mutual mockery transformed humiliation into brotherhood, giving rise to the joking relationship.
Harouna Sawadogo highlighted that this mechanism defuses conflicts, protects against shame, and promotes peaceful coexistence. Through joking, community members tell each other truths with humor, soothe pain, and strengthen their solidarity. A diplomatic tool, joking kinship also constitutes a vector for resolving crises.
The speaker invited the three localities to perpetuate this practice through concrete actions: courtesy visits, cultural meetings, traditional games, planting of symbolic trees, and surveys of key people to rewrite history.
Participants from Boulsa, Mane, and Tema Bokin welcomed the ARNK initiative, which they said strengthens unity and cohesion among their communities. They pledged to perpetuate this ancestral mechanism, the foundation of national unity.
The conference was part of the “24 Hours of Namentenga” in Kaya, which also included sanitation activities, a gala football match, and support for the presidential initiative Faso Mebo, in a spirit of culture, solidarity, and social cohesion.