Traditional power in "loss of momentum"? Analysis in two Burkinabe novels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55595/hrxdjz26Keywords:
custumary power, Burkinabe literature, transgression, contestationsAbstract
Power, in all its forms, has always arused enthousiasm, but also crystallized passions. An expression of authority and exemplarity, it is intimately linked to divine power, with reference to pharaohs and deities in many civilizations in Africa and the rest of the world. However, it is increasinggly controversial. Certainly, its ability to mobilize around common causes and to resolve civil and land disputes and family conflicts is no longer in question, but the exercise of political aspect seems not suited to the current modern context and the aspirations of societies in full change : non-inclusive, implacable decisions, male dominance, mystery and esoterism. This is ambivalent image is one reflected by literature, in this case Burkinabe literature.Downloads
References
Badini-Folané Denise, 1998, « Les femmes et l’exercice du pouvoir politique dans les pays de la Haute-Volta précoloniale et coloniale », Université de Ouagadougou, Annales, Volume X, 1998, pp.93-111, Série A : Sciences humaines et sociales.
GO Issou, 2014, Poétique et esthétique magiques, Ouagadougou, Harmattan Burkina ;
HALPOUGDOU Martial et al., 2012, « Le royaume de Boussouma des origines à la fin de l’occupation coloniale », DIST-INSS (CNRST), Burkina Faso ;
LOADA Augustin, 2014, « Les Burkinabè préfèrent l’impartialité politique de leurs Chefs traditionnels » Afro Baromètre, donner une voix au peuple N 150 ;
MAMBI TUNGA-BAU Héritier, 2010, Pouvoir traditionnel et d’État en République Démocratique du Congo, esquisses d’une théorie d’hybridation des pouvoirs politiques, RDC, MEDIASPAUL ;
NEBIE Bali, 2018, Le crépuscule des Ténèbres, Ouagadougou, Les Presses africaines ;
OUEDRAOGO Didier, 2011, La fugueuse, Ouagadougou, L’Harmattan ;
SALCEDO Cécile, 2014, « Le statut constitutionnel des chefs traditionnels en Afrique du Sud », Revue française de droit constitutionnel, n 98, pp.445-466 ; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3917/rfdc.098.0445
SOME Magloire, 2015, « État, pouvoir et démocratie en Afrique de l’ouest contemporain : les héritages du passé », Cahiers du CERLESHS tome XXX, n 50, Ouagadougou, pp101-139
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Article licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication. Articles carrying this licence may be copied and shared for noncommercial purposes, provided that the authors and journal are credited, copyright notices are retained and a link to the licence is supplied.
No distribution of adaptations: a translation, rewriting or other adapted version may not be distributed under this licence without separate permission from the rights holder. Statutory exceptions remain applicable.
Earlier versions: permissions already validly granted, including under CC BY-NC 4.0, remain in force. PDFs accompanied by the bilingual notice dated 3 October 2026 specify the licence of the distributed version and preserve the original pages as historical material.