The Gurunsi, or Grunshi, are a set of related ethnic groups inhabiting northern Ghana and south and central Burkina Faso.
Gurunsi people
Total population
154,062 983,602 in Burkina Faso [1] 4.6% of Burkina Faso's population [1]
Regions with significant populations
Primarily native to Kingdom of Dagbon northern Ghana and southern Burkina Faso. Diaspora present in United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany etc.
Gourounga, Gurunsi sacred building, late 19th century
Oral traditions of the Gurunsi hold that they originated from the western Sudan passing through the Sahel. While it is unknown when the migration occurred, it is believed that the Gurunsi were present in their current location by 1100 AD. Following the 15th century, when the Mossi states were established to the north, Mossi horsemen often raided Gurunsi areas for slaves, but the Gurunsi peoples were never fully subjugated, remaining independent.
According to doctor Salif Titamba Lankoande, in Noms de famille (Patronymes) au Burkina Faso, the name Gurunsi comes from the Djerma language of Niger words “Guru-si”, which means “iron does not penetrate”. It is said that during the Djerma invasions of Gurunsi lands in the late 19th century, a Djerma jihadist leader by the name of Baba Ato Zato (better known by the Hausa corruption of his name: Babatu) recruited a battalion of indigenous men for his army, who after having consumed traditional medicines, were said to be invulnerable to iron. They set up the Zabarima Emirate within Gurunsiland, which makes up far northern Ghana and southern Burkina Faso.
Partition
The people who speak closely related Gur languages and dialects and classed by the Mossi under the umbrella term Gurunsi form an arc of village communities mostly organised as defensive strongholds from the Koudougou residency west and northwest of Ouagadougou in colonial times to the northeast of current day Ghana. Historically, these groups were subjects of the Mossi kingdoms. This area became in the late 1890s part of a three-way competition between the colonial forces of the French, the British, and the Germans, trying to subdue Djerma warlords and fight also the warlike local population who resisted fiercely to maintain its autonomy, while vying to occupy as much territory as possible at the expense of rival colonial powers. Each of the three claimed part of the territory occupied by the Gurunsi villages, but the competition between the colonial powers was not resolved until the last year of the 19th century. After establishing the protectorates of Yatenga (1895) and Ouagadougou (1896), the French annexed Gurunsi lands in 1897. Eventually the Germans withdrew to Togoland (modern Ghana & Togo), and an 1898 Anglo-French agreement officially established the boundary with the Gold Coast (now Ghana). This partition divided Gurunsi peoples among French and British administrative systems, facilitating the political and cultural divergence of sub-groups on each side of the boundary.
Gurunsi ethnic groups
The term Gurunsi is used as a meta term to refer to a group of very loosely relate peoples. The ethnic groups classified as Gurunsi do not share a common language and have distinct cultural practices. Some of the largest Gurunsi ethnic groups are the Frafra, Nabt and Talensi in Ghana as well as the Ko, Lyele, Nuna, and Sisaala in Burkina Faso. The sub-groups Kassena and Nankani inhabit both Ghana and Burkina Faso.[citation needed]
Art and architecture
The Kassena people are known for their clay houses which are built by the men and decorated by the women on the exterior with geometric patterns.[2]
References
^ ab"Africa: Burkina Faso The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
^Jeffiries, Pat (7 February 2013). "From the Home Front: 'Flintstones' architecture; decorated cob homes; architectural jewelry; Roof House". Oregon Live. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
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.
January 29, 2023
gurunsi, people, this, article, factual, accuracy, disputed, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, ensure, that, disputed, statements, reliably, sourced, august, 2017, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, gurunsi, grunshi, related, et. This article s factual accuracy is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced August 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Gurunsi or Grunshi are a set of related ethnic groups inhabiting northern Ghana and south and central Burkina Faso Gurunsi peopleTotal population154 062983 602 in Burkina Faso 1 4 6 of Burkina Faso s population 1 Regions with significant populationsPrimarily native to Kingdom of Dagbon northern Ghana and southern Burkina Faso Diaspora present in United States United Kingdom France Germany etc LanguagesGurunsi Hausa Sisaala English FrenchReligionSunni Islam Contents 1 Pre colonial history and origins 2 Partition 3 Gurunsi ethnic groups 4 Art and architecture 5 References 6 BibliographyPre colonial history and origins Edit Gourounga Gurunsi sacred building late 19th century Oral traditions of the Gurunsi hold that they originated from the western Sudan passing through the Sahel While it is unknown when the migration occurred it is believed that the Gurunsi were present in their current location by 1100 AD Following the 15th century when the Mossi states were established to the north Mossi horsemen often raided Gurunsi areas for slaves but the Gurunsi peoples were never fully subjugated remaining independent According to doctor Salif Titamba Lankoande in Noms de famille Patronymes au Burkina Faso the name Gurunsi comes from the Djerma language of Niger words Guru si which means iron does not penetrate It is said that during the Djerma invasions of Gurunsi lands in the late 19th century a Djerma jihadist leader by the name of Baba Ato Zato better known by the Hausa corruption of his name Babatu recruited a battalion of indigenous men for his army who after having consumed traditional medicines were said to be invulnerable to iron They set up the Zabarima Emirate within Gurunsiland which makes up far northern Ghana and southern Burkina Faso Partition EditThe people who speak closely related Gur languages and dialects and classed by the Mossi under the umbrella term Gurunsi form an arc of village communities mostly organised as defensive strongholds from the Koudougou residency west and northwest of Ouagadougou in colonial times to the northeast of current day Ghana Historically these groups were subjects of the Mossi kingdoms This area became in the late 1890s part of a three way competition between the colonial forces of the French the British and the Germans trying to subdue Djerma warlords and fight also the warlike local population who resisted fiercely to maintain its autonomy while vying to occupy as much territory as possible at the expense of rival colonial powers Each of the three claimed part of the territory occupied by the Gurunsi villages but the competition between the colonial powers was not resolved until the last year of the 19th century After establishing the protectorates of Yatenga 1895 and Ouagadougou 1896 the French annexed Gurunsi lands in 1897 Eventually the Germans withdrew to Togoland modern Ghana amp Togo and an 1898 Anglo French agreement officially established the boundary with the Gold Coast now Ghana This partition divided Gurunsi peoples among French and British administrative systems facilitating the political and cultural divergence of sub groups on each side of the boundary Gurunsi ethnic groups EditThe term Gurunsi is used as a meta term to refer to a group of very loosely relate peoples The ethnic groups classified as Gurunsi do not share a common language and have distinct cultural practices Some of the largest Gurunsi ethnic groups are the Frafra Nabt and Talensi in Ghana as well as the Ko Lyele Nuna and Sisaala in Burkina Faso The sub groups Kassena and Nankani inhabit both Ghana and Burkina Faso citation needed Art and architecture EditThe Kassena people are known for their clay houses which are built by the men and decorated by the women on the exterior with geometric patterns 2 References Edit a b Africa Burkina Faso The World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency www cia gov 2021 Retrieved 26 June 2021 Jeffiries Pat 7 February 2013 From the Home Front Flintstones architecture decorated cob homes architectural jewelry Roof House Oregon Live Retrieved 8 October 2016 Bibliography EditBayili 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 Conquete 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 Neuchatel Faculte des lettres These 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gurunsi people amp oldid 1108870083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
