1983 BURKINA FASO - A Fula woman

The Fula people (or Fulani or Fulɓe), numbering approximately 20 million people, are one of the most widely dispersed and culturally diverse of the peoples of Africa. They are spread, in larger or smaller proportion, from Sudan to Mauritania, and from Egypt to Central African Republic, being bound together by the common language of Fulfulde, as well as by some basic elements of Fulbe culture, such as the pulaaku, a code of conduct.

1429, 1952 BURKINA FASO - At the market

1952 Burkina Faso - Women at the market

Posted on 31.01.2015, 11.10.2015

There are more than 60 ethnic groups in Burkina Faso, so it is difficult to say to which belong people shown in the postcards. The most predominant group are the Mossi, mainly farmers, concentrated in the central portions of the country. Other groups are the Bobo (in the southwest; mostly farmers, artisans, and metalworkers), Fulani (in the north; a nomadic, pastoralist trading people), Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, and Mand. Agriculture represents 32% of the country gross domestic product and occupies 80% of the working population, although only 13% of the land is cultivated. In general is a subsistence agriculture, due to the highly variable rainfall and to poor soils, but also due to primitive methods.

1429 Burkina Faso -Two men at the market

Regarding the religion, it seems that about 60% of the Burkinabé practice Islamism, while about 23% of the population are Christians, and 15% follow traditional indigenous beliefs.so it is difficult to say to which belong the people shown in the postcards. Therefore, neither regarding the religion of the people shown in the postcards I can't make any specification, although the man from the left of the postcard 1429 wears a Kufi cap, initially an islamic headdress, but now worn in West Africa also by Christians. Anyway, traditionally, when worn by men, the kufi is a sign of peace, mourning, renewal or protection of the mind. I can say also that women in postcard 1952 aren't in any case Muslim.