This past weekend I attended the annual Kotokoli cutting fete, which is also called Adossa. (In case you’ve forgotten, Kotokoli is the predominant ethnic group in the area I live in.) There are smaller ceremonies au village, but the main event is held in our regional capital, Sokode. The fete is held at our futbol stadium in the center of the city. There was a parade of dancers, horses dressed up in their traditional garb, drummers, and villagers who had come from all around the region to come and watch. Even President Faure was there!
Inside the stadium, the crowds packed in to watch knife performers do their traditional dance. They typically take a large knife or machete and quickly run it across their stomachs and chest to the beat of drums. They believe that they are unharmed because of either magic or God’s protection, depending on who you ask. The ceremony is done in order to show the strength of the Kotokoli people, and has some religious significance as well, but I am unclear on what exactly the significance is.
The women dressed up in their finest pagne dresses and head scarves, and many of the men wore traditional woven boubous, or various other event costumes and outfits. The younger crowd could be seen in jeans and t-shirts and flipflops, taking photos and videos to send to their buddies on their Whatsapp and Facebook. Overall it was a very confusing and hectic fete that I didn’t completely understand, but I can’t think of many other opportunites in life to see something quite like this.
