The Mossi are a Gur ethnic group native to modern Burkina Faso, primarily the Volta River basin.

The Mossi are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, constituting 52% of the population,[1] or about 11.1 million people.

The other 48% of Burkina Faso's population is composed of more than 60 ethnic groups, mainly the Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Bissa and Fulani.

[citation needed] Yennenga was a warrior princess, daughter of a king, Naa Gbewaa, of present-day northern Ghana.

The story has it that while exploring her kingdom on horseback, she lost her way and was rescued by Rialé, a solitary Mandé hunter.

Two great events have affected the status of the Mogho Naaba during colonization: The Mossi and several other peoples played a significant role in France's military during World War II.

[6] The Mossi people have organised their society in an original hierarchic process in which family and state are the key elements.

Though the political dynamic of the country has changed, the Mogho Naaba is recognised by his people and has substantial authority.

As in the past, the Mogho Naaba needs the support of the “ancient ones”, his Nyon-nyonse (or gnon-gnon-sse) subjects to fully exercise his power.

These two groups are generally fused but have internal subdivisions, each one having its own ruling family; they perform ceremonies and other important events.

The lack of racism in Frobenius' report and his discovery of an industrious people and what some would describe as a glorious past interested W.E.B.

If an ancestor chooses to deny entrance, the soul of the disavowed one is condemned to run at random for all eternity.

Because of these beliefs, Mossi swear by their ancestors or by the land; when they do so (which only occurs in extreme situations), it is more than symbolic — it is a call to imminent justice.

[11] The family is organised like a kingdom with its king — the husband and father, his advisor — the wife, and the people — the children.

The Friday Mogho Naaba court ceremony derives from an event when the Moro Naba's sister fled north to the land of Yadega, the kingdom called Yatenga.

The Moro Naba had to decide whether to follow her and retrieve his sacred power objects or to remain behind to rule over his people.

In the end he did not pursue his sister, and to this day the kings of Yatenga claim that they hold the power of Mossi rule.

These figures are displayed each year at royal festivals called na possum, when the heads of each household in the community reaffirm their allegiance and loyalty to the chief.

[12] The Nyonyose (the ancient farmers and spiritual segment of Mossi society) use masks in their religious observances and rituals.

Masks in initiations and funerals is typical of all the Voltaic or Gur-speaking peoples, including the Nyonyose, Lela, Winiama, Nouna, Bwaba, and Dogon.

They are carved in three major styles that correspond to the styles of the ancient people who were conquered in 1500 by the invading Nakomse and integrated into a new Mossi society: Female masks have two pairs of round mirrors for eyes; small masks, representing Yali ("the child") have two vertical horns.

All Nyonyose masks are worn with thick costumes made of the fiber of the wild hemp, Hibiscus cannabinus.

In the old days only the northern Nyonyose in Yatenga and Kaya, and the eastern people around Boulsa allowed their masks to be photographed.