Royal Court of Tiébélé

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The Royal Court of Tiébélé: A Cultural Testimony of the Kassena People

The Royal Court of Tiébélé, located in the heart of Burkina Faso's Centre-Sud Region, stands as a remarkable testament to the rich cultural heritage and social organization of the Kassena people. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, this traditional architectural complex offers a unique insight into the customs, beliefs, and values of this West African ethnic group.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The property is an earthen architectural complex established since the 16th century that bears testimony to the social organization and cultural values of the Kasena people. Enclosed by a protective compound wall, the Royal Court consists of a set of buildings arranged in distinct concessions separated by walls and passageways leading to ceremonial and gathering places outside the compound. Built by the men of the Royal Court, the huts are then adorned with decorations of symbolic significance by the women, who are the sole guardians of this knowledge and ensure this tradition is kept alive.

Encyclopedia Record: Royal Court of Tiébélé

The Royal Court of Tiébélé is a traditional Kassena architectural complex located in the town of Tiébélé, in the Centre-Sud Region of Burkina Faso. This traditional complex consists of the residence and court of the Kassena king (Pè) and other royal family members, mausoleums, memorials, shrines, and other traditional adobe structures such as sacred groves and stone courts. The adobe structures of the complex are also renown for their traditionally decorated and painted walls, a craft that is done exclusively by women. The traditional royal court ensemble was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2024.

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