The ''Kumpo'', the Samay, and the ''Niasse'' are three traditional figures in the

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...

of the

Diola The Jola or Diola (endonym: Ajamat) are an ethnic group found in Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. Most Jola live in small villages scattered throughout Senegal, especially in the Lower Casamance region. The main dialect of the Jola langu ...

in the

Casamance , settlement_type = Geographical region , image_skyline = Senegal Casamance.png , image_caption = Casamance in Senegal , image_flag = Flag of Casamance.svg , image_shield = , motto ...

(

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

) and

Gambia The Gambia,, ff, Gammbi, ar, غامبيا officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland AfricaHoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A-Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publicatio ...

. Multiple times in the course of the year, i.e. during the ''Journées culturelles'', a

folk festival A folk festival celebrates traditional folk crafts and folk music. This list includes folk festivals worldwide, except those with only a partial focus on folk music or arts. Folk festivals may also feature folk dance or ethnic foods. Handicra ...

in the village is organized. The ''Samay'' invites the people of the village to participate in the festivities. He can run very hard and with his stick he mandates strict order in the community. He knows everything that happens in the village. He can be considered the ceremony master of the traditional dance event.

Similar figures

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 ...

Niasse The Niasse, along with the Kumpo and the Samay, are three traditional masked figures in the religion of the Jola people, living in the Casamance (Senegal) and in Gambia. They play a central role in the social life of the traditional village. Mu ...

{{portal, Traditional African religion, Gambia, Senegal Casamance Gambian culture Jola religion Senegalese culture