Kumpo

The Kumpo is a mythological figure of the Jola people in the Casamance

TheKumpois one of three traditional figures (along withSamay,and theNiasse) in themythologyof theDiolapeople in theCasamance(Senegal) and inGambia.

Multiple times in the course of the year, i.e. during theJournées culturelles,afolk festivalin the village is organized. TheSamayinvites the people of the village to participate with the festivity.

TheKumpois dressed withpalm leavesand wears a stick on his head. At the start of the dance, a young lady binds a colored flag on the stick. She dances for hours with the stick and the flag on the head. He speaks a private, secret language and communicates through an interpreter with the spectators.

Social background

TheKumpo's goal is to encourage the community to act as good villagers. He encourages the people of the village to participate in community life and provides well wishes. The festival is intended as a stimulus for the social community life, and not participating to the feast is seen as anti-social behavior. The whole community is invited and there are performances ofrhythmical musicand dance.

According to thetradition,the Kumpo is not a person, but rather aghost.The entity is strongly associated with thebois sacré.It is considered taboo to question the real identity of the Kumpo. It is forbidden to touch the Kumpo, and it is consideredsacrilegeto look inside the palm leaves. To deter possible intruders, he defends himself with his stick by smashing the ground and pointing, making sharp, hazardous gestures.

At the end of the celebration, he says goodbye to the community and recedes back into thebois sacré.

Related Mythological Figures

• Samay
• Niasse

• Videos of Kumpo in Bagaya, Senegal
• Welcoming Kumpo
• Dance of the Kumpo
• Story of the Kumpo
• Good-bye