Poro society

E581896

The Poro society is a traditional West African male secret society that plays a central role in social, political, and spiritual life, particularly among ethnic groups such as the Temne.

All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
Poro society canonical 21
Komo society 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf male initiation society
secret society
traditional religious institution
associatedWithEthnicGroup Gola people
Kissi people
Kpelle people
Mende people
Temne people
Vai people
authorityStructure hierarchical leadership
counterpartGender female
country Guinea
Ivory Coast
linked to: Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia
Sierra Leone
culturalRole organizes communal festivals
preserves oral traditions
transmits customary law
educationalRole initiates and educates boys into adulthood
function confers adult male status
enforces community norms
maintains social order
settles disputes
genderRestriction male only
hasCounterpart Sande society
influence conflict resolution
local chieftaincy selection
initiationSetting bush schools
leadershipTitle Poro chief
Poro elder
membership initiated adult men
politicalRole exerts political authority in local communities
prohibition non-initiates excluded from rituals
region West Africa
religiousRole regulates traditional religious practices
religiousTradition African traditional religion
ritualPractice initiation rites
masking ceremonies
secret rituals in sacred groves
secrecy oaths of secrecy for members
socialRole regulates social life
spiritualRole mediates between humans and spirits
teaches gender roles
history and traditions
moral codes
survival skills
usesSpace sacred forest groves
usesSymbol sacred masks

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (22)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Temne initiationSociety Poro society
Mende secretSociety Poro society
Mano people initiationSociety Poro society
Ekpe society relatedTo Poro society
Bambara people initiationSociety Komo society
linked to: Poro society
Temne initiationSociety Poro society
subject linked to: Themne
Sande society associatedWith Poro society
Sande society hasCounterpart Poro society
Bassa people initiationSociety Poro society
Loma people initiationSociety Poro society
Kpelle people initiationSociety Poro society
Mende people socialInstitution Poro society
Mende people secretSociety Poro society
Mende people genderRoleInstitution Poro society
Temne people secretSociety Poro society
Dan people initiationSociety Poro society
Vai people initiationSociety Poro society
Kono people initiationSociety Poro society