{{short description|Mythical figure of the Diola people of West Africa}} 300px|The Kumpo is a mythological figure of the Jola people in the Casamance|thumb
The '''Kumpo''' is one of three traditional figures (along with ''Samay'', and the ''Niasse'') in the mythology of the Diola people in the Casamance (Senegal) and in Gambia.
Multiple times in the course of the year, i.e. during the ''Journées culturelles'', a folk festival in the village is organized. The Samay invites the people of the village to participate with the festivity.
The ''Kumpo'' is dressed with palm leaves and wears a stick on his head. The ''Kumpo'' is usually made from ronier leaves specifically.<ref>{{cite book |last=N'Diaye-Corréard |first=Geneviève |title=Les mots du patrimoine : le Sénégal |chapter=Koumpo |publisher=Archives contemporaines |year=2006 |page=315 |isbn=9782914610339 |language=French}}</ref> At the start of the dance, a young lady binds a colored flag on the stick. The ''Kumpo'' dances for hours with the stick and the flag on the head. He speaks a private, secret language and communicates through an interpreter with the spectators.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Contesting Forestry in West Africa|author1=Reginald Cline-Cole{{rlm}}، Clare Madge}}</ref>
== Social background == The ''Kumpo'''s goal is to encourage the community to act as good villagers. He encourages the people of the village to participate in community life and provides well wishes. The festival is intended as a stimulus for the social community life, and not participating to the feast is seen as anti-social behavior. The whole community is invited and there are performances of rhythmical music and dance.
According to the tradition, the Kumpo is not a person, but rather a ghost. The entity is strongly associated with the bois sacré. It is considered taboo to question the real identity of the Kumpo. It is forbidden to touch the Kumpo, and it is considered sacrilege to look inside the palm leaves. To deter possible intruders, he defends himself with his stick by smashing the ground and pointing, making sharp, hazardous gestures.
At the end of the celebration, he says goodbye to the community and recedes back into the ''bois sacré''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Religion, Ethnicity and Transnational Migration between West Africa and Europe|author1=Gina Gertrud Smith, Stanislaw Grodz|page=115}}</ref>
==Related mythological figures== *Samay *Niasse <gallery caption="Videos of Kumpo in Bagaya, Senegal"> File:Verwelkoming van Samay en Kumpo in Bagaya.webm|Welcoming Kumpo File:Dans van de Kumpo in Bagaya.webm|Dance of the Kumpo File:Verhaal van de Kumpo in Bagaya.webm|Story of the Kumpo File:Afscheid van de Kumpo in Bagaya.webm|Goodbye </gallery> {{portal|Traditional African religion|Gambia|Senegal}}
== References == <references />
Category:Casamance Category:Jola religion