Burkina Faso fighters seek protection with spiritual rituals
By SAM MEDNICK Associated Press April 29, 2021 8:40am Text size Copy shortlink:
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso Antoine Ouedraogo didn t run when Islamic extremist fighters killed his colleagues only feet away from him in northern Burkina Faso. Instead, the 53-year-old says, he simply recited a secret word and became invisible.
The father of 17, who used to arrest bandits and now fights the extremists as part of a local defense militia, says a secret medicine he took as a child continues to protect him from bullets and machetes. As adults, we still have that medicine inside of us, he said. Even now if something happens, I can disappear.
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso
Antoine Ouedraogo didn’t run when Islamic extremist fighters killed his colleagues only feet away from him in northern Burkina Faso. Instead, the 53-year-old says, he simply recited a secret word and became invisible.
The father of 17, who used to arrest bandits and now fights the extremists as part of a local defense militia, says a secret medicine he took as a child continues to protect him from bullets and machetes.
“As adults, we still have that medicine inside of us,” he said. “Even now if something happens, I can disappear.”
Fighters like Ouedraogo are putting their faith in these traditional spiritual practices to protect them as attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State ravage the West African nation, killing thousands and displacing more than 1 million people. The deeply rooted tradition holds that plants, animals and ritual objects mixed with verses from holy texts can provide protection before going to battle.
Since militant violence broke out, some Dozos - ancient hunters who have been drawn into the jihadist fight - have been working with the army to help protect their villages, relying on traditions to keep them safe
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Burkina Faso Fighters Faith In Tradition Amid Attacks
Some fighters in Burkina Faso are putting their faith in traditional spiritual practices to protect them as attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State ravage the West African nation, killing thousands and displacing more than 1 million people.
Some fighters in Burkina Faso are putting their faith in traditional spiritual practices to protect them as attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State ravage the West African nation, killing thousands and displacing more than 1 million people.
Since the jihadist violence broke out, some Dozos - ancient hunters who have been drawn into the jihadist fight - have been working with the army to help protect their country, relying on traditions to keep them safe.