PICS DE SINDOU

A cradle of Sénoufo culture in Burkina Faso, Sindou is a wonderful and mysterious place. It teaches the story of this people that has been able to resist the various external influences and thus retain very strong ancestral rites, but which has also remained locked for a long time. For too long according to the Tiémoko guide, which, on the understanding of the elders, decided to create the association Soutrala Terya, to promote solidarity tourism, crafts and culture of the country Sénoufo in Burkina Faso.

The peaks, from 300 to 440 m altitude, are considered to be the ancestors of the Sénoufo. The plateau is 3 km long and 1 km wide. It is the same mountainous chain that runs from cascades to the cliffs of Bandiagara, Mali. According to traditional stories, the peaks were built by geniuses at King Solomon's time 500 000 years ago. The Sénoufo settled there in the th century after fleeing the tribal wars that operated in the current Mali. A snake boa would have carried them on these peaks, already inhabited by the Ouara (or Wara). The latter would then have fled and fled to the Cave cave village (which can be visited). A hunter would then have asked the village's spirit to protect them and, the spirit accepted, the village was named Sindou, meaning "protected village".

The population thinks it is thanks to this mystical protection that Sindou has remained immune from all wars. There are still sacrifices to be made, thanks to ceremonies of gratitude, recognition… and not just from the Sénoufo! The protective spirit would still reside in these cliffs. There is therefore a sacred area in which it is forbidden to enter.

In 1993, on the Plateau plateau, was shot the film by Dani Kouyaté Keita, the inheritance of griots. The film team then reconstituted a village Sénoufo whose ruins can still be seen. Cacti surround the village and use their sap to poison the arrows.

It was in the early th century that the Sénoufo then moved from the peaks to the current location of the village.

The proposed tour circuits are very easy and do not require any particular physical capability. After the small ascent is done, you walk on a plateau. It is possible to extend the visit over a whole day (tariffs: 5 000 FCFA half day and 10 000 FCFA the day for the group (add support for meals in the guide). Take at least 2 hours on site to enjoy the site. Don't miss it!