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The Bwa is an African society that is native to Burkina Faso. Having an approximate population of over 300,000 persons, the Bwa people live in a number of individualized communities. They have no central government, and rely on their community standards. are most known for their scarification and elaborate plank masks.

Background
The initial recorded history of the Bwa people focuses more on their struggle for independence from various intruders of their land. Those intruders preyed on and set claim to the Bwa's individual villages throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The earliest record of conquest over the Bwa was by the Bamana empire in the 18th century. They established their dominance by conquering the individual villages as well as implementing a tax system. Following the Bamana, the Fulani gained control over the Bwa people. They ravished the Bwa lands--murdering and/or imprisoning the villagers, burning crop fields, and stealing from them. By the early-19th century, the Bwa had been conquered, yet again, by the French. at this point, the French equipped the Fulani as their own mercenaries to further control the Bwa. In 1915, the Bwa fought back to little avail and continued to suffer as the French wrecked their villages.

Not only did the Bwa have to deal these invasions, but they also had to survive droughts, crop failure, and disease.Due to all of these misfortunes, the Bwa turned to their neighboring people, the Nuna. admiring what they believed to be continuous blessings, the Bwa adopted some Nuna customs in attempt to please the Nuna God. Obliging, the Nuna taught the Bwa some of their customs and practices.

Location
The Bwa are mainly located in e and Southern Burkina Faso. They also reside in the Northern part of Ghana as well as Mali. Furthermore, the Bwa are known to reside specifically between the Bani and Mouhoun Rivers. Along with these rivers, the Bwa are associated with the Upper Volta River, which also is commonly recalled when discussing the society's art. While still residing in a spread of several independent villages, the most notable living area of the Bwa people is Boni, a town located near Ouagadougou and Houndé.

Population
Th Bwa people's population consist of roughly more than 300,000 members.

Religious Beliefs
The creator deity of the Bwa is known as Wuro, a god who designed the earth with the intention of establishing balance. Wuro was said to be hurt by a human, and in return, he decided to send his eldest son Dwo to act as the communication line between he and the people. Wuro had three sons: Dwo, the god of rebirth, Soxo, the god of the wilderness, and Kwere, the lightning god. Two and his significance is heavily depicted in the Boni Bwa's ceremonial leaf masks. Animism is the main religious belief practiced by the Bwa. In fact, the art work that the Bwa are known for is primarily used for animist practices--specifically that of Nuna origin.

Denominations
Nuna practices still hold firm in the Bwa culture. In relation, there is a group called the Cult of Do (or Dwo). They are led by the village's eldest male member, the Labie (also known as the earth priest.

With that being said, they have also adopted both Islam and Christianity as a result of their prior invasions.

Practices
While the Bwa are famous for their masks, it is the purpose behind the pieces that provides the real significance. Using these masks, along with scepters and diverse body adornments, the Bwa will dance and perform these items in representation of different spirits. Those Bwa members who have gone through initiation--a process of transitioning from a child to an adult member of society--are grouped together in age grades. During ceremonies, they adorn and praise the masks that are being performed as a group. It is also important to note that these mask performances are not gender specific. Women are very much a part of these events just as much as their male counterparts.

Tools
The Bwa use various divination sculptures and carvings to carry out significant ceremonies and practices. These event refer to initiations, funeral, communication with spirits, and theatre performances.

Language
There are a total of five Bwa languages, also known as Bwamu, including Boti, Benge, Kiba, Leboa-Le, and Yewu. In addition to these, the Bwa people also speak French as well as Dyula.

Masks
The largest single-piece masks in the Upper Volta area are produced by the Bwa. These masks

Economy
Farming has been a constant way of life for the Bwa. It is their primary source of income with their most successful crop being cotton. Besides cotton, though, the Bwa are known to harvest certain grains such as millet rice and maize. These crops along with other grains and various fruits are used for both nutritional and medicinal purposes.

Politics
The Bwa, much like their neighbors within Burkina Faso, is made of smaller villages that have their own councils that practice democratic decentralization. A lot of the decision-making is done within these local politics.