Tiéfo
[aka Foro, Tyefo, Tyeforo]Classification: Niger-Congo
·endangered
-
Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
-
~1,000
-
12,000-15,000
-
"The Tiéfo population numbers between 12,000 and 15,000, according to calculations based on the 1985 Burkina census (INSD 1991), and attempting to take into account both population growth and the percentage of villagers who would not be Tiéfo. It is important to note, however, that there are presently around 1,000 Tiéfo who speak their mother tongue."
- DATE OF INFO
- 1985
- DOMAINS OF USE
-
- SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
-
- TRANSMISSION
-
- OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
-
Jula; French;
- LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS
"Most Tiéfo have abandoned their language in favor of Jula, presumably as a result of a perceived social advantage to be gained by using Jula. Along with abandoning their language, they have also abandoned their traditional beliefs and have converted to Islam. In Dramandougou Tiéfo, where villagers have held off the influence of Jula in favor of the Tiéfo language, the inhabitants have likewise resisted Islam in favor of their traditional, animistic religion. ... The Tiéfo seem to place a high value on attending school and learning French. ... Through a source in Banfora, we learned of the presence of at least 2 dialects."
- PLACES
- Burkina Faso
- LOCATION DESCRIPTION
"The general Tiéfo territory lies to the south of Bobo-Dioulasso in the provinces of Comoé and Houet. There are Tiéfo villages located in the departments of Tiéfora and Sidéradougou in the Comoé province and in the departments of Bobo-Dioulasso, Péni, and Karankasso-Vigué in the Houet province. According to Kerstin Winkelmann, the following villages are ethnically Tiéfo: Dramandougou, Nyafogo, Koumandara, Dégué-Dégué, Derege, Laranfiera, Mousoubadougou, Yegere, Dabokeri, Noumouso, Tanga, Yanga, Kiefandougou, Dandougou, Kadio, Farajan, Sourkoutomo, Me, Matourkou, Damogan, Tien, and Kodala (Winkelmann 1996:165). All together, this area of about 20 small villages covers approximately 1,500 km2. The only known village where Tiéfo is presently spoken is Dramandougou Tiéfo, a village located in the department of Tiéfora in the province of Comoé. Winkelmann also notes that certain older people of Nyafogo and Noumoudara still know some of their language (Winkelmann 1996:166)."