Ouedraogo

'''Ouedraogo''' (also spelled '''Wedraogo''' or '''Ouidiraogo''') was the son of Yennenga and progenitor of the Mossi Kingdoms. He founded the kingdom of Tenkodogo. His three sons were Rawa, Diaba Lompo, and Zoungourana.<ref name="RupleyBangali2013">{{cite book|author1=Lawrence Rupley|author2=Lamissa Bangali|author3=Boureima Diamitani|title=Historical Dictionary of Burkina Faso|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PzXEKPYNXm8C&pg=PA156|date=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-8010-8|page=156–}}</ref><ref name="NianeAfrica1984">{{cite book|author1=Djibril Tamsir Niane|title=Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TpjwF--kPL4C&pg=PA224|date= 1984|publisher=UNESCO|isbn=978-92-3-101710-0|pages=224–}}</ref>

== Etymology == His name is sometimes transcribed as Wed Raogo,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sylviane |first=Janin |title=Burkina Faso: Pays des hommes intègres |publisher=Olizane |isbn=978-2-88086-437-8 |location=Burkina Faso |date=2016 |page=231}}</ref> Wedraogo or Ouidiraogo. It means “The Stallion”<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Jean-Louis |first=Gouraud |title=L'Afrique par monts et par chevaux |date=2002 |publisher=Éditions Belin |isbn=2-7011-3418-8}}</ref> or “male horse”<ref name=":0" /> in the local language; which constitutes, among other things according to Jean-Louis Gouraud, a tribute to the animal that Yennenga was riding when she met her father.<ref name=":1" /> His people nickname him “Zungrana” (from “zugu”, head, and “rana”, master).<ref name=":0" />

== Legendary History == The birth of Ouédraogo is linked to the legend of the warrior princess Yennenga. However, there are several versions; although all make him a descendant of Princess Yennenga, the latter is most often cited as his mother,<ref name=":1" /> or more rarely as his grandmother.<ref name=":0" />

Eager to find love, Yennenga leaves her father's land by riding her stallion, who takes her hand and takes her to a hut deep in the woods, where an elephant hunter named Riale lives, or Raogo.<ref name=":0" /> Accepting the hospitality of the hunter, she united with him and gave birth to Ouédraogo,<ref name=":1" /> or to Massom according to the version which makes Ouedraogo the grandson of Yennenga.<ref name=":0" /> According to this last version, Massom gives birth to Ouédraogo with an unknown young woman, and dies shortly after the birth of his son.<ref name=":0" />

Yennenga taught Ouedraogo the art of riding, hunting, and war, thanks to the use of the bow and the javelin.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Fongot |first=Kini-Yen Kinni |title=Pan-Africanism : political philosophy and socio-economic anthropology for African liberation and governance, Caribbean and African American contributions. |date=2015 |publisher=Langaa Research & Publishing |isbn=978-9956-762-08-8 |volume=3}}</ref> Riale teaches him how to hunt large animals, such as elephants, leopards and lions.<ref name=":2" /> This dual teaching allowed Ouedraogo to become an accomplished warrior.<ref name=":2" />

On the initiative of his mother, he founded the kingdom of Mossis, of which Yennenga became queen regent.<ref name=":2" /> She suggests that he visit her grandfather, King Nedega of the Dagomba kingdom, when he is 15 years old, but reputed to be as strong as a 30-year-old man thanks to the training he has followed.<ref name=":2" /> He goes there accompanied by a small cavalry: Nedega (Gbewa) is so happy to see him that he provides him with 50 cows, 4 horses, and many other horsemen to join his army.<ref name=":2" />

With this army, Ouedraogo united the different ethnic groups of the Bousansi, asserted his status as king, and founded the city of Tenkodogo.<ref name=":2" />

He married Queen Pouiriketa, with whom he had three sons: Rawa, Diaba Lompo, and Zoungrana.<ref name=":2" /> He died of an arrow received in the chest during a battle against the Bousansi.<ref name=":0" /> His son Zoungrana succeeded him after his death, at the head of the kingdom of Tenkodogo.<ref name=":2" />

== Legacy == Ouedraogo is considered the ancestor and founder of the Mossi<ref name=":1" /> people, who form the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso. Instigator of a thousand-year-old empire, the hierarchy he established has not changed until today.<ref name=":0" /> His name is also one of the most common surnames in Burkina Faso.

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:13th-century Burkinabe people Category:City founders