Meet the Senufo: The People Who Made a Pact with Nature

“The history of the Senufo is that of a people of farmers and builders who have always lived in harmony with nature. Originally from the North (around present-day Mali), their ancestors migrated several centuries ago to the savannas of northern Côte d’Ivoire in search of fertile land and peace.

Unlike other peoples who arrived through war, the Senufo settled by making a spiritual “pact” with the land: they promised to respect the spirits of the bush in exchange for the right to farm the soil. To protect their culture and their secrets, they created the Poro, a traditional school set in sacred groves where every young person learns discipline, work and respect for the elders. Over time, they organized themselves into large specialized families (blacksmiths, sculptors, farmers), making their region a model of stability and know-how that endures to this day.”