The Mossi Tribe

The Mossi Kingdoms

The Mossi are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, organising themselves around a cluster of traditional kingdoms ruled by the Mogho Naba (Emperor of the World) in Ouagadougou. Their kingdom tradition dates to the 11th century, making them one of the most historically continuous polities in West African history.

Mossi society is hierarchical, with a clear distinction between the ruling warrior class (descended from the kingdom's founders) and the farming communities they absorbed. Art serves this hierarchy directly — the most significant Mossi objects are those that mediate between royal authority and ancestral legitimacy.

Masks & Ancestor Figures

The most celebrated Mossi art form is the wango mask — a tall, narrow superstructure of geometric forms rising from a small face mask. The upper section is painted in geometric patterns of red, white, and black, and can reach heights of several feet. Wango masks are used in funerary ceremonies to guide the spirit of the deceased.

Mossi ancestor figures (wemba) represent important deceased individuals — chiefs, family heads, and notable women. The female ancestor figure is particularly important in Mossi art: an idealised standing woman representing the founding female ancestor of each lineage, whose continued benevolence ensures fertility and prosperity.

Legacy & Continuity

The Mossi kingdom tradition continues today — the Mogho Naba is an active political and cultural figure in Burkina Faso. Mossi carvers continue producing masks and ancestor figures, and the wango mask tradition remains active in funerary ceremony across the Mossi plateau.