Soussou

The Susu people are a Mande-speaking ethnic group living primarily in Guinea and Northwestern Sierra Leone, particularly in Kambia District.Susu people
Encyclopædia Britannica Influential in Guinea, smaller communities of Susu people are also found in the neighboring Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.

The Susu are a patrilineal society, predominantly Muslim, who favor endogamous cross-cousin marriages with polygynous households. They have a caste system like all Manding-speaking peoples of West Africa. The artisans such as smiths, carpenters, musicians, jewelers, and leatherworkers are separate castes and believed to have descended from the medieval era of slavery.

The Susu people are also referred to as Soosoo, Sossoé, Sosoe, Sosso, Soso, Sousou, Susso, Sussu, or Soussou.

Demographics and language

Their language, called ''Sosoxui'' by native speakers, serves as a major trade language along the Guinean coast, particularly in its southwest, including the capital city of Conakry. It belongs to the Niger-Congo family of languages.

In the old Susu language, "Guinea" means woman and this is the derivation for the country's name.

Ethnonymy

The meaning of the name "Soso or Susu" apparently derived from "''Susuwi,''" meaning "horse" or "horseman" in the Susu language. The terms "Sawsaws," "Souses," and "Sussias" are all English corruptions of "Susu," rarer variants of their name are also encountered such as ''Souzo'', ''Sossé'', ''Suzées'', ''Socé'', ''Caxi'', ''Saxi'', ''Saxe'', and even as ''Sexi''.

History

The Susu are descendants of their Manding ancestors who lived in the mountainous Mali-Guinea border. They are said to have originally been a section of the Soninke people that migrated out of Wagadou and were initially a clan of blacksmiths who displayed their clear intentions to object converting to Islam. In the twelfth century, when Ancient Ghana was in decline, they migrated south and established a capital city of Soso in the mountainous region of Koulikoro. The Susu were once ruled by Sumanguru Kanté, but after that, they were ruled by the thirteenth century Mali Empire. In the fifteenth century, they migrated west to the Fouta Djallon plateau of Guinea, as the Mali empire disintegrated. The close familiarity with the Yalunka people suggest a hypothesis that they were once members of the same group in the Fouta Djallon, separated by Fula invaders, and that the Susu moved southward absorbing other people in the process. The Susu people were traditionally animist .

The Fula people dominated the region from the Fouta Djallon. The Fulani created an Islamic theocracy, thereafter began slave raids as a part of Jihad that impacted many West African ethnic groups including the Susu people. In particular, states Ismail Rashid, the Jihad effort of Fulani elites starting in the 1720s theologically justified enslavement of the non-Islamic people and also led to successful conversion of previously animist peoples to Islam. The political environment led the Susu people to convert to Islam in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, along with further westward and southward migration towards the plains of Guinea.

The colonial-era Europeans arrived in the Guinea region of resident Susu people in the late eighteenth century for trade, but got politically involved during the era of Temne wars that attacked the Susu people along with other ethnic groups. While Temne sought British support, the Susu sought the French. The region split, with Temne speaking Sierra Leone regions going with the British colonial empire, and Susu speaking Guinea regions becoming a part of the French colonial empire in the late nineteenth century during the Scramble for Africa.

Society and culture

The Susu live with their extended family. Polygyny is an accepted practice since Islamic law allows men to have as many as four wives. This is not always practiced because having multiple wives requires more means than most men have. The men provide for their families by working the rice fields, fishing, or engaging in trade. The women cook the food and take care of the children. They often engage in small commerce, usually of vegetables they have raised in their garden. Often women will have their room or hut next to their husband's lodging where they will stay with their children.

Over 99% of Susu are Muslim, and Islam dominates their religious culture and practices. Most Islamic holidays are observed, the most important being the celebration that follows Ramadan (a month of prayer and fasting). The Susu people, like other Manding-speaking peoples, have a caste system regionally referred to by terms such as ''Nyamakala'', ''Naxamala'' and ''Galabbolalauba''. According to David Conrad and Barbara Frank, the terms and social categories in this caste-based social stratification system of Susu people shows cases of borrowing from Arabic only, but the likelihood is that these terms are linked to Latin, Greek or Aramaic.

The artisans among the Susu people, such as smiths, carpenters, musicians, and bards (''Yeliba''), jewelers, and leatherworkers, are separate castes. The Susu people believe that these castes have descended from the medieval era slaves. The Susu castes are not limited to Guinea, but are found in other regions where Susu people live, such as in Sierra Leone where too they are linked to the historic slavery system that existed in the region, states Daniel Harmon. The Susu castes in the regional Muslim communities were prevalent and recorded by sociologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Some Susu combine their Islamic faith with traditional beliefs, such as the existence of spirits who inhabit certain areas, and the belief in sorcerers who have the power to change into animals, cast evil spells on people, or heal people from certain ailments.

The Susu people also utilize practices of the Bondo secret society which aims at gradually but firmly establishing attitudes related to adulthood in girls, discussions on fertility, morality and proper sexual comportment. The society also maintains an interest in the well-being of its members throughout their lives.

The Susu are primarily farmers, with rice and millet being their two principal crops. Mangoes, pineapples, and coconuts are also grown. The Susu are also known as skilled traders and blacksmiths. The women make various kinds of palm oil from palm nuts. Ancient Susu houses were typically made of either mud or cement blocks, depending on the resources available.

Susu patronyms

Some common Susu surnames are:

*Conté
*Yansané
*Fofana
*Sylla or Sillah
* Soumah
* Bangoura
*Yattara
*Sankhon
*Youla
*Daffé
*Cissé
*Camara
*Touré
*Diarso
*Diarisso

Notable Susu people

Political figures

* Amara Bangoura, Guinean diplomat
*Elhadj Aly Jamal Bangoura, current Secretary General of Religious Affairs of Guinea
* Fodé Bangoura, Guinean politician and former Minister Secretary General to President Lansana Conté
* Karim Bangoura, Guinean diplomat
*Kiridi Bangoura, Guinean politician
* Mafory Bangoura, was a radical activist for the independence of Guinea
* Mahawa Bangoura, Guinean diplomat
*Mohamed Saloum Bangoura, current Deputy Director General of the Armed Forces Health Service of Guinea
*Abdoul Kabèlè Camara, Guinean politician
* Arafan Camara, Guinean politician
*Makalé Camara, Guinean diplomat
*Manga Kindi Camara, the founder of Kindia
* M'Balia Camara, Guinean independence activist
* Zeinab Camara, Guinean politician
*Lansana Conté, former President of Guinea from 1984 to 2008
* Seydou Conté, Guinean diplomat
* Abdulai Conteh, former Vice president of Sierra Leone
*Kandeh Baba Conteh, Sierra Leonean politician
*Ahmed Ramadan Dumbuya, Sierra Leonean politician
* Dala Modu Dumbuya, was an Important Sierra Leonean-Susu trader during the colonial era
*Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, former Prime Minister of Guinea
* Mohamed Said Fofana, former Prime Minister of Guinea
*Soumaoro Kanté, was a Thirteenth-century king of the Sosso Empire
* Domin Konteh, was the leader of the earliest wave of Soso migrants into present-day Sierra Leone
*Elhadj Sékhouna Soumah, the Kountigui of costal Guinea
* Fodé Soumah, Guinean politician
*Sam Mamady Soumah, Guinean politician
*Foday Sumah, Sierra Leonean diplomat
*Ibrahima Abé Sylla, Guinean politician
* M'Mahawa Sylla, Governor of the city of Conakry
*Foday Tarawallie, was a Nineteenth-century marabout
*Soumba Toumany, was a Yalun-Soso elephant hunter and founded the Kingdom of Dubréka
*Facinet Touré, Guinean politician and former soldier of the French colonial army
* Fodé Katibi Touré, the founder of Moriah in Forécariah
* Kémoko Touré, Guinean politician
*Kalémodou Yansané, Guinean politician
* Kerfalla Yansané, current Ambassador of Guinea to the United States
* Sékou Mouké Yansané, Guinean diplomat
* Osman Foday Yansaneh, Sierra Leonean politician
*Bountouraby Yattara, Guinean politician
*Momodu Yillah, Sierra Leonean politician
* Mamady Youla, former Prime minister of Guinea from 2015 to 2018
*Nabi Youla, Guinean diplomat
*Kandeh Yumkella, Sierra Leonean politician
*Mohamed Foday Yumkella, Sierra Leonean politician

Musicians

* Amatala, Guinean musician
* King Alasko, Guinean musician
*Bafodé Bangoura, Guinean musician
* Fodé Seydou Bangoura, Guinean drummer
* Mohamed Bangoura, Guinean drummer
* Yaya Bangoura, Guinean musician
*Soul Bang's, Guinean musician
* Bangoura Batafon, Guinean musician
*Doudou Benny, Guinean musician
* Oumar le Blanc, Guinean musician
* Lévi Bobo, Guinean musician
* Mousto Camara, Guinean musician
* Natu Camara, Guinean musician
*Petit Camara, Guinean musician
* N'nato Camara, Guinean musician
*Hamid Chanana, Guinean musician
*Daddi Cool, Guinean-reggae musician
*Junior Conté, Guinean musician
* Fodé Conté, Guinean musician
* Ans T Crazy, Guinean musician
*Ousmane Soty Daffé, Guinean musician
* King Détruit, Guinean musician
* Mohamed Django, Guinean musician
* Lasso Doumbouya, Guinean musician
* Antoine Flingo, Guinean musician
*Fish Killa, Guinean musician
*Abdoulaye Korofé, Guinean musician
*Sister Lessa, Guinean rapper
*RB Tout Locks, Guinean musician
* Konko Malela, Guinean rapper
*Kader Mafia, Guinean musician
* Bouba Menguè, Guinean musician
* Dija NGM, Guinean rapper
*Lil Sacko, Guinean musician
* Bill de Sam, Guinean musician
* Abraham Sonty, Guinean musician
*Ahmed Soumah, Guinean musician
*Alphonse Soumah, Guinean musician
*Armand Soumah, Guinean musician
*Djibril Soumah, Guinean musician
*M'mahawa Soumah, Guinean musician
* Momo Wandel Soumah, Guinean musician
*N'Fa Moussa Soumah, Guinean musician
*Toumany Z Sparta, Guinean musician
* Aly Sylla, Guinean musician
*Maciré Sylla, Guinean musician
* One Time, Guinean musician
* Ablos Touré, Guinean musician
* Macheté Touré, Guinean musician
* Yarie Touré, Guinean musician
*Papche Warano, Guinean musician
* Alpha Wess, Guinean-reggae musician
*Jack Woumpack, Guinean musician
* Takana Zion, Guinean-reggae musician

Sportspeople

* Abdoul Karim Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Alhassane Bangoura, Guinean footballer
*Alkhaly Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Facinet Bangoura, Guinean swimmer
* Ibrahima Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Ismaël Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Ismaël Karba Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Kilé Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Lappé Bangoura, Guinean football coach
* Mamadama Bangoura, Guinean judoka
* Mamadouba Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Mohamed Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Momar Bangoura, French footballer
* Ousmane Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Pierre Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Sambégou Bangoura, Guinean footballer
* Yady Bangoura, Guinean footballer
*Mohamed Bangura, Sierra Leonean footballer
*Abdoul Camara, Guinean footballer
* Abou Mangué Camara, Guinean footballer
* Alsény Camara, Guinean footballer
* Alsény Camara, Guinean footballer
*Aguibou Camara, Guinean footballer
* Dede Camara, Guinean swimmer
* Ibrahima Sory Camara, Guinean footballer
*Kémoko Camara, Guinean footballer
* Mady Camara, Guinean footballer
* Naby Camara, Guinean footballer
*Souleymane Camara, Senegalese footballer
* Abdoulaye Cissé, Guinean footballer
*Abdu Conté, Bissau-Guinean footballer
* Ibrahima Sory Conté, Guinean footballer
* Naby Diarso, Guinean footballer
* Boubacar Fofana, Guinean footballer
* Ibrahima Sory Sankhon, Guinean footballer
*Chérif Souleymane, Guinean footballer
* Issiaga Soumah, Guinean footballer
*M'mah Soumah, Guinean judoka
* Morlaye Soumah, Guinean footballer
*Naby Soumah, Guinean footballer
*Ndèye Fatou Soumah, Senegalese sprinter
* Seydouba Soumah, Guinean footballer
*Soriba Soumah, Guinean footballer
* Abubakar Suma, Sierra Leonean footballer
* Lamin Suma, Sierra Leonean footballer
*Sheriff Suma, Sierra Leonean footballer
* Abdoul Karim Sylla, Guinean footballer
*Idrissa Sylla, Guinean footballer
*Issiaga Sylla, Guinean footballer
*Kanfory Sylla, Guinean footballer
*Mohamed Lamine Sylla, Guinean footballer
* Mohamed Ofei Sylla, Guinean footballer
*Momo Sylla, Guinean footballer
* Morciré Sylla, Guinean footballer
* Morlaye Sylla, Guinean footballer
* Sekou Oumar Sylla, Guinean footballer
*Djibril Fandjé Touré, Guinean footballer
* Momo Fanyé Touré, Guinean footballer
* Sylla M'Mah Touré, Guinean sprinter
* Ibrahima Yattara, Guinean footballer
* Mohamed Yattara, Guinean footballer
* Naby Yattara, Guinean footballer
*Souleymane Youla, Guinean footballer
* Sekou Yansane
* Momo Yansane
* Henri Camara

Actors

* Fode Bangoura, Canadian actor
*Soumah Mangué, Guinean actor
*Prince Modupe, Guinean actor
* Souleymane Sylla, Guinean actor

Journalists

* Foniké Menguè, Guinean activist and journalist
*Harry Yansaneh, Sierra Leonean journalist

Writers

* Abdoulaye Ditinn Camara, Guinean writer
* Alioum Fantouré, Guinean writer

Other notable people

* Mohamed Bentoura Bangoura, Guinean sociologist
* Kerfalla Person Camara, Guinean entrepreneur
*Tigui Camara, Guinean entrepreneur
* Ousmane Conté, Lansana Conté's son
*Cheick Yansané, Guinean model

Musical groups

*Ideal Black Girls, Guinean rap group
*Instinct Killers, Group of artist and dancers
* Les Espoirs de Coronthie, Guinean musical group
*Les Espoirs de Kakandé, Guinean musical group
* Les Étoiles de Boulbinet, Guinean musical group
*Les Messagers de Boulbinet, Guinean musical group

References

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Indigenous peoples of West Africa
Ethnic groups in Guinea
Ethnic groups in Sierra Leone
Mandé people
Muslim communities in Africa
West African people
Female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation by country