A Sociocultural Approach to Funeral Jokes in the Moaaga Community in Burkina Faso: Analysis of the Forms, Place and Role of Amusements in a Mourning Situation

Abstract

This study conducted in the moaaga environment in the province of Namentenga in Burkina Faso aims to pinpoint and analyze the forms of jokes taking place during traditional funerals. It is built on research hypotheses which show that during funerals, jokes take many forms, play an important role in relaxing the atmosphere while fulfilling many functions. This study, which is part of the overall framework of the sociology of culture, allows us to identify three types of jokes. On the one hand, there are the jokes involving the retention of corpses, demands for payment of funeral procession pass fees, provocative speeches and songs, as well as physical struggles. On the other hand, we have the jokes developed by the bi-paagba (daughters-in-law), the yagense (grandsons) and the crowd through dances, musical entertainment and comical sacrificial gestures, claims for money, meat, millet beer (dolo) and food from their uncles and aunts (pugdba). Finally, we have the jokes played by specific characters such as the Kט-togsa (funeral announcer) and her clown, the mask of the Yarsés, and the one between the Fulani, the Yarsés and the masks etc. These jokes have undeniable entertaining, symbolic, social, cultural and educational functions, through the lessons of solidarity and compassion learned.