Gourma: As part of National Heritage Month celebrations, student teachers visited the headquarters of the Association Vivre au Village (VIVAVI) in Fada N’Gourma on May 15, 2025. They learned about the essential role of the calabash in the Gourmantche community.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the VIVAVI Association’s tourist guide, Issa Nassouri, highlighted the calabash’s significance beyond its function as a cooking utensil. He explained that the calabash is integral to every aspect of a Gourmantche’s life.
Mr. Nassouri detailed that the Gourmantche life is categorized into three phases: pre-life, life, and death, with the calabash being a constant presence. Before birth, the calabash is used in rituals to ensure a balanced life. From birth, it serves various purposes, such as bathing infants and providing food and drink. At funerals, the calabash plays a crucial role, with the deceased’s children identified by wearing it.
He further explained the economic benefits derived from the calabash, noting its use in decorations and as a musical instrument. Mr. Nassouri emphasized that it is common to see a Gourmantche woman accompanied by a calabash, which she uses for cooking, traveling, and providing for her child. The calabash remains central to the lifestyle and culture of the Gourmantche.