Her Name was Yennenga

1.Prologue History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future. -Robert Penn Warren The Legacy of the Civil War, p.100, U of Nebraska Press (1961) For a very long time, it was a fundamental belief that men are superior to women. Even today, this belief persists in some African societies. The story of Princess Yennenga challenges this idea and invites some reconsideration of what we really believe about the genders. The legend of Yennenga is very popular in Burkina Faso, a country located in West Africa which name means in the local language: "Country of people of integrity". Very early on, little girls learn about Yennenga, either at school for those lucky enough to be able to attend, or through their parents or grandparents. Legends and myths are fundamental elements of African literature that allow us to understand history in all its complexity. Although it is difficult to place the history of this Princess, from the ethnical group of mossi, in a specific time frame, most narrations state that Yennenga was born between the tenth and fifteenth centuries and that she was the only daughter of King Nedega and Queen Napoko. Knowledge of the legend of Yennenga comes from the Mossi’s oral tradition, from chronological narratives transmitted from generation to generation by griots, but also from the writings of explorers, colonizers, and researchers who conducted surveys among the population in the past. There are several versions of the history of Yennenga, depending on the interpretation of the past and the origin of the narrator. However, the version recounted in this book is based on the dominant oral tradition, which is generally accepted by all with regard to the basic events of the story. Opinions differ especially on the disappearance of the princess. Some historians report that Yennenga's horse got carried away during an offensive and got lost in the forest. Others maintain that the princess deliberately left the kingdom to escape the authority of her father. However, everyone agrees that after a long ride, the princess found herself in the middle of a vast clearing where her exhausted horse finally stopped. Generally, when the story of Princess Yennenga is told, it is to relate the origins of the mossi Empire. Because of the values that the author wishes to convey, some characters and facts are pure creations of the imagination, but they find their origin in traditional mossi societies. This is the case, for example, with the character of the old lady Tipgo, who played an important role in the spiritual education of the princess. Indeed, Tipgo, whose life demonstrates that the mystery of life is real, taught Yennenga not to ignore the inner voice that speaks to her; she taught her to appreciate the presence of the ‘beings of light’ that protect and guide her. As a result of Tipgo’s teaching, the young princess learned to detect the clues that appeared in the course of her journey, even if they did not seem to form a clear message. Also, the illustrations presented are an interpretation and do not accurately represent the architecture, ornaments, characters and hairstyles of this era. Although there are many variations of the story of Yennenga, one must not stop at the legendary or mythical character of the story. Princess Yennenga did exist, and her story represents a significant part of the historical heritage of Burkina Faso and of Africa in general. Every legend has a basis of reality. With a little imagination, we will try to bring the very unique existence of Yennenga back to life with this incredible story. Beyond the creation of the mossi kingdom, there are several lessons to be learned from the life of Princess Yennenga. Her story is also an example of compassion, forgiveness, love, and above all, of the courage and determination of a woman to emancipate from some aspects of traditions. This book offers an interpretation of Yennenga’s story that highlights basic and fundamental human values, which remain relevant and important even in the twenty-first century. Yennenga's grave in Gambaga, a town in the north of what is now the Republic of Ghana in Africa, is a place of pilgrimage and reverence. Anyone traveling to Ghana today will have no trouble finding the town of Gambaga located in the Northern Region. And that is where the story of Yennenga begins...