From 15th century
Northern Yatenga, upper Volta basin
The Samo, known as Sana in the Manden designation, lived near Yatenga in concentrated settlements marked by large grain stores. Their political organization consisted of relatively stable confederations of dozens of villages grouped around several centres corresponding to the Manden kafu, or canton. Clan alliances and territorial coalitions supported this system. The Samo were both farmers and experienced warriors, strongly attached to their independence and resistant to repeated attempts by Yatenga to subdue them.
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The Story
The Samo lived near Yatenga in concentrated settlements whose enormous grain stores reflected an agricultural society organized around collective production and storage. Their communities formed part of the decentralized political world of the upper Volta basin, but they were not politically unstructured. Instead, they developed stable combinations of villages and local centres.
Their political organization rested on confederations comprising dozens of villages. These confederations gathered around a few political centres comparable to the Manden kafu, or canton. Authority was supported by two complementary principles: alliances among clans and coalitions based on territory.
The Sana, the Manden name for the Samo, combined farming with military experience. They were described as fiercely attached to their freedom and repeatedly resisted pressure from Yatenga. Their resistance persisted despite the proximity and political ambitions of that kingdom.
From 15th century
Northern Yatenga, upper Volta basin
The Samo, known as Sana in the Manden designation, lived near Yatenga in concentrated settlements marked by large grain stores. Their political organization consisted of relatively stable confederations of dozens of villages grouped around several centres corresponding to the Manden kafu, or canton. Clan alliances and territorial coalitions supported this system. The Samo were both farmers and experienced warriors, strongly attached to their independence and resistant to repeated attempts by Yatenga to subdue them.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Samo lived near Yatenga in concentrated settlements whose enormous grain stores reflected an agricultural society organized around collective production and storage. Their communities formed part of the decentralized political world of the upper Volta basin, but they were not politically unstructured. Instead, they developed stable combinations of villages and local centres.
Their political organization rested on confederations comprising dozens of villages. These confederations gathered around a few political centres comparable to the Manden kafu, or canton. Authority was supported by two complementary principles: alliances among clans and coalitions based on territory.
The Sana, the Manden name for the Samo, combined farming with military experience. They were described as fiercely attached to their freedom and repeatedly resisted pressure from Yatenga. Their resistance persisted despite the proximity and political ambitions of that kingdom.