Legitimation Strategies of Kemite Movements in Ouagadougou

Abstract

This study is situated within the context of the spiritual and cultural revival observed in Burkina Faso, marked by the rise of Kemetism in Ouagadougou. This movement, which claims a lineage with ancient Egypt, emerges as both a response to identity quests and a form of symbolic resistance to Westernization. The main objective is to analyze the processes through which Kemetism gains legitimacy in the Burkinabè capital, by examining the discursive, ritual, and media strategies employed by its actors, as well as the internal paradoxes that arise from them.

The research, conducted between 2017 and 2024, adopts a qualitative approach grounded in the anthropology of religious and political practices. It unfolded in two phases: the first focused on the student movement “2h pour nous, 2h pour Kamita”, and the second extended to other Kemetic organizations. Data were collected primarily through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and media analysis, involving 28 informants, mainly from the movements “2h pour nous, 2h pour Kamita” and LEGRATA (Le Grand Retour de l’Afrique sur la Terre de ses Ancêtres). Findings reveal that the legitimation of Kemetism relies on ritual practices (djibôn), alliances with traditional mediators (dozos), and a strong presence on social media. However, these strategies generate tensions, including ritual dependency on external actors and contradictions between spiritual orthodoxy and the pursuit of public visibility. The study thus shows that the construction of Kemetic legitimacy, while strengthening social recognition, simultaneously exposes the movement to paradoxical dynamics of delegitimization.