Lobi in Burkina Faso

Introduction / History

In the 1600s, the Wala lived in Mamprusi and established control over the Dagari and Lobi peoples. They settled in Wa, northwestern Ghana. In the late 1700s, the Lobi migrated from Ghana to their present location due to pressure from larger groups in the area. The Lobi continue to migrate today, but to a lesser extent, either for better land or to find jobs in the cities. Because of continued invasions and raids from other groups, the Lobi developed their characteristic fortress-type houses and poison arrow weapons. They remain an aggressive people.

The Lobi occupy the Black Volta region where the countries of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso meet. They actually form two separate groups: the Lobi (named for their language), and the Wala (named for the area, Wa, in which most of them live). Because the Lobi and Wala share many similarities in language, location, history, and culture, researchers often group them as one people: the Lobi-Wala. Both groups speak their own dialect of the Gur language, which belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. For our purposes we will focus on the Lobi, who practice animism.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Lobi are primarily farmers who migrate continually in search of adequate farm land. They raise cereals such as sorghum, millet, and maize, as well as peppers, yams, squash, beans and rice. They sell some of their crops in local markets, especially sorghum beer. Most families also raise cattle, sheep, goats and chickens. Wage-paying jobs have recently attracted some of the Lobi to migrate.

On the farms, men do most of the work in the fields, but women help with the planting and harvesting. Women cultivate their own vegetable gardens, collect forest products, gather firewood and haul water. They also prepare the meals and make the beer. Both men and women build the houses.

The Lobi live in village settlements that consist of several compounds. The settlements are widely scattered in order to leave room for farming and for each family's herds. Larger bush farms are located farther away from the settlements.

Mothers breast feed their children until they are old enough to walk. Children aren’t considered human until that time. Girls learn to keep house from their mothers and boys work with their fathers. Lobi girls, unlike girls from other tribes in the region, may also help their fathers and brothers with the herding.

Each year they have several celebrations which usually take place at shrines. They celebrate an abundant rain harvest with dancing. Ceremonies also accompany events such as births, marriages and deaths. The most important ceremonies, however, center around initiations into secret societies.

The Wala are noted for their expert xylophone players who perform at funerals and dances, while the Lobi are noted for their mask-making abilities. The Lobi are expert word carvers who produce sculptures for various occasions.

What Are Their Beliefs?

A majority of the Lobi follow their traditional animistic beliefs (belief that non-human objects have spirits), while most of the related Wala have partially adopted Islam.

Their worship practices center around ancestors and objects of nature. The earth is believed to watch over the community and bring fertility to the soil. The spirits of the ancestors are thought to watch over the lineage and to be involved with household matters. The people believe that these ancestral spirits need to be fed and cared for. The spirits are said to become hungry and dissatisfied when they are not properly appeased, turning into evil spirits. The animists also believe that spirits in animals and objects can be caught, after which time a shrine is built in their honor.

What Are Their Needs?

Although the Lobi-Wala have the New Testament in their language, and some have become Christians. Most have never yet heard a clear presentation of the gospel message. Increased missions efforts, additional laborers, Christian broadcasts, and evangelistic literature are greatly needed to effectively reach the Lobi with the gospel.

Prayer Points

Ask the Holy Spirit to give spiritual hunger to Lobi family leaders, and that they will embrace the savior no matter what the cost.
Ask God to raise up additional long term missionaries to make sure there is a complete Bible and discipleship materials.
Pray that signs and wonders will follow the Lobi-Wala believers as they share Christ with their own people.

Text Source:   Joshua Project