What is "kumpo"

The Kumpo, the Samay and the Niasse are three traditional figures 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 the head. At the start of the dance, a young lady binds a coloured flag on the stick. He 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.