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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Conflict or Symbiosis? Disentangling Farmer-Herdsman Relations: The Mossi and Fulbe of the Central Plateau, Burkina Faso
Authors:Breusers, MarkISNI
Nederlof, SuzanneISNI
Rheenen, Teunis vanISNI
Year:1998
Periodical:Journal of Modern African Studies (ISSN 0022-278X)
Volume:36
Issue:3
Period:September
Pages:357-380
Language:English
Geographic term:Burkina Faso
Subjects:ethnic relations
Mossi
Fulani
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Ethnic and Race Relations
Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/161788
Abstract:Mossi farmers and Fulbe herders have lived together for a long time on the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso. Conflicts between the two groups have generally been attributed to growing pressure on natural resources caused by population increase. The underlying assumption of this 'mainstream' interpretation is that this is a rather new phenomenon, implying that relations between the Mossi and Fulbe are deteriorating from an initial symbiotic situation. This article presents evidence from research in two villages - Ziinoogo and Zincko - to suggest a different interpretation. The authors found that even though in some settings relations between Mossi and Fulbe seem strained and conflict-ridden, in other settings tensions are almost absent, despite pressure on natural resources. Furthermore, if conflicts over natural resources are displayed on the public stage as conflicts opposing Mossi and Fulbe, this does not necessarily mean that relations between the two groups are deteriorating. Publicly employed hostile discourse may go hand in hand with friendly dyadic relationships. The authors conclude with a tentative analysis of the reasons for the prevalence of the mainstream interpretation of Mossi-Fulbe relations. Notes, ref. (Comment by Peter Oksen in: The Journal of Modern African Studies, vol. 38, no. 1 (2000), p. 121-124, with a reply by the authors on p. 125-128.)
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