The Bété are an
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
group with strong cultural and artistic links to the
Dan
Dan or DAN may refer to:
People
* Dan (name), including a list of people with the name
** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark
* Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa
**Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoir ...
, the We (
Gwere) and the Guro, among others. The Bete together with many other ethnolinguistic groups makeup the Kru ethnic group. There are 93 distinct groups within the Bété polity.
Culture
They are only united in that they are
subsistence farmers
Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow food crops to meet the needs of themselves and their families on smallholdings. Subsistence agriculturalists target farm output for survival and for mostly local requirements, with little or no su ...
, but base most of their culture around hunting. Social control was exercised by the leading member of individual lineages (several in each village) who exercises judicial and financial power within the community.
Bété are known for their focus on
individual rights
Group rights, also known as collective rights, are rights held by a group ''wikt:qua, qua'' a group rather than individually by its members; in contrast, individual rights are rights held by Individuality, individual people; even if they are grou ...
. A male "chief" is chosen by the people based on the criterion of wisdom. This leader stays in power until his death or any wrongdoing. Bete women are known for being outspoken.
Religion
Historically, spiritual authority was wielded with an array of paraphernalia, notably including the “gre” mask, a horned and decorated creation (originating with the We) designed to instill terror in the onlooker, to quell social unrest, and to be worn when meting out justice after conflict.
Statuary is uncommon, and is based around feminine iconography that refers to a mythical mother figure. No recognized liturgical function was found, although some reports indicate that a pair of figures was often placed under a village rain shelter to represent its founders. This evocation of a primeval couple has widespread resonance in
African culture
African or Africans may refer to:
* Anything from or pertaining to the continent of Africa:
** People who are native to Africa, descendants of natives of Africa, or individuals who trace their ancestry to indigenous inhabitants of Africa
*** Ethn ...
. Rare figures with exaggerated
genitalia
A sex organ (or reproductive organ) is any part of an animal or plant that is involved in sexual reproduction. The reproductive organs together constitute the reproductive system. In animals, the testis in the male, and the ovary in the female, a ...
are probably linked to a magico-religious
fertility
Fertility is the capability to produce offspring through reproduction following the onset of sexual maturity. The fertility rate is the average number of children born by a female during her lifetime and is quantified demographically. Fertili ...
appeal. Alternatively, they may have constituted a more general role, evoking or celebrating the fertility of the village/land, its founders or the forest from which the people made their living.
Today much of the population is
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
.
Marriage
Traditionally, Bete men traveled outside of the village to find marriage partners. Choosing a partner within the ethnicity is not allowed because of the belief that the village is a family unit. Ethnically diverse marriages therefore are strongly encouraged. Before dating begins men ask about the woman's family to prevent an intra-familial match. Marriage is forbidden if the couple is related in any way. Husbands remain in their home village after marriage. Wives are assigned the husband's ethnic identity. The husband is expected to provide a home and land (usually inherited) for his wife.
The marriage is discussed only among the bride and groom and is meant to be a surprise for the parents, particularly the woman's parents. The date of the wedding is set and the wife's family is invited to the groom's village to celebrate. The woman's family then visits to make sure the woman is marrying of her own free will. This is a polite formality. When she has said that she is sure of her decision, then congratulations are welcomed. The wedding ceremony takes one week. Each day is a celebration of the bride and she is treated royally.
Polygamy
Crimes
Polygamy (from Late Greek (') "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is married ...
is practiced by wealthier and older men. Husbands typically have no more than three wives. When a man decides to marry again, the first wife becomes a sort of mother to her. The original wife may choose to become the head of the group of wives. This is a common practice but not an obligation. Any wife may choose to separate if her husband marries another woman. The original wife may attempt to make the second wife feel unwelcome to make her leave instead. Alternatively, the wives get along.
Divorce is very common. A wife can leave her husband and return to her home village whenever she chooses without notice or explanation. The husband in turn can choose to kick his wife out. Counseling among friends is very common in marital disputes.
Traditions are mostly practiced by people still living in villages. When the children move to cities, they usually adopt modern traditions.
Notable people
*
Brice Dja Djédjé
Brice Florentin Dja Djédjé (born 23 December 1990) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a right back or wing back for Turkish club Denizlispor.
He began his career training at the Camp des Loges, the training centre of Paris Sain ...
*
Gervinho
Gervais Yao Kouassi (born 27 May 1987), known as Gervinho, is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek Super League club Aris and the Ivory Coast national team.
Gervinho began his career at ASEC Abidjan and Toumodi ...
*
Hervé Guy
Hervé Guy Landry Bi Bola (born 17 September 1991), is an Ivorian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Midfielder#Defensive midfielder, defensive midfielder for Botola club Fath Union Sport.
Club career
Guy began his care ...
*
Jean-Jacques Gosso
Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (born 15 March 1983) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He played in Ivory Coast, Israel, Morocco, France and Turkey. He made 22 appearances for the Ivory Coast national t ...
*
Igor Lolo
Igor Alexandre Lolo (born 22 July 1982) is an Ivorian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football), defender.
Club career
Born in Adzopé, Ivory Coast, Lolo started his career with ASEC Mi ...
*
Koffi Kouao
Koffi Franck Kouao (born 20 May 1998) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a defender for French club Metz.
Club career
Kouao made his professional debut in the Segunda Liga for Vizela on 28 January 2017 in a game against Des ...
*
Soumahoro Bangaly
Soumahoro Bangaly (born July 18, 1991) is an Ivorian professional footballer plays for Al-Ansar as a center back.
Professional career
After a brief passport issue was resolved, Bangaly signed with Romanian Liga II club Râmnicu Vâlcea as a fr ...
*
Bonaventure Kalou
Bonaventure Kalou (born 12 January 1978) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He serves as elected mayor of Vavoua.
Club career
Born in Oumé, Kalou started playing for ASEC Mimosas in his home cou ...
*
Salomon Kalou
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou (born 5 August 1985) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a forward and winger for Djiboutian club Arta/Solar7.
He previously played for Feyenoord from 2003 to 2006 and Chelsea from 2006 to 2012. Wh ...
*
Eric Bailly
Eric Bertrand Bailly (; born 12 April 1994) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Marseille, on loan from club Manchester United, and the Ivory Coast national team. Although he mainly plays as a centre-back, he ca ...
*
Franck Kessié
Franck Yannick Kessié (born 19 December 1996) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Ivory Coast national team.
Club career
Born in Ouragahio, Kessié began his career in Stella Club ...
*
Serge Aurier
Serge Alain Stéphane Aurier (; born 24 December 1992) is an Ivorian professional footballer who currently plays as a right back for Premier League club Nottingham Forest and captains the Ivory Coast national team.
Aurier moved to France as a c ...
*
Maxwel Cornet
Gnaly Albert Maxwel Cornet (born 27 September 1996) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a winger and full-back for Premier League club West Ham United and the Ivory Coast national team. He has previously played in France for Me ...
*
Max Gradel
Max-Alain Gradel (born 30 November 1987) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Turkish club Sivasspor and the Ivory Coast national team.
Gradel received his first call-up to the Ivory Coast national team i ...
*
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily (; born 11 March 1978) is an Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. He is best known for his career at ...
*
Johan Djourou
Danon Issouf Johannes Djourou Gbadjere (; born 18 January 1987), known as Johan Djourou, is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a centre back. According to his profile on the website of his former club Arsenal, Djourou possesses ...
*
*
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, also known as Cheik Nadro (11 March 1923 – 28 January 2014), was an Ivorian artist.
Life and career
Bouabré was born in Zépréguhé, Ivory Coast, and was among the first Ivorians to be educated by the French colo ...
*
Simon Adingra
See also
*
Bété language
References
*Bacquart, J. 1998/2000. ''The Tribal Arts of Africa''. Thames and Hudson.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bete People
Ethnic groups in Ivory Coast