After a last gasp equalizer from Accra Hearts of Oak, majority thought that the pendulum had swung in their favor and that they were going to emerge victorious, at the expense of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
The dreaded penalty kicks was to decide the winner. Hearts of Oak’s Mohammed Alhassan stepped up and missed his kick. Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s skipper, Amos Frimpong wouldn’t miss a glorious opportunity to make history. He stepped up and slotted the decisive spot kick…….and the Fabulous boys of Kumasi Asante Kotoko “killed” the “never say die” Phobians.
In the aftermath of the defeat, a photo of Aboubakar Traore with a “strange” waistband hit social media. Instantly, majority touted it as “juju”/ black magic.
We had to find out what exactly that object was…….and we did.
Upon enquiries, we gathered credible information that the object Aboubakar Traore had strapped around his waist is called “Laaya” in Hausa or “Seberie” in Moshie/ Mossis
Who Are The Moshies?
The Moshie/ Mossi are a West African ethnic group who trace their ancestral roots to Burkina Faso, primarily the Volta River basin. The Mossi, according to Wikipedia are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso which constitutes more than 40% or about 6.2million people.
Due to migration, a lot of the Mossi people live in neighbouring countries, including Ghana, Mali, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin.
In Ghana, they are traced to the Mamprusis and the Dagombas. According to tradition, the Mossi came from the marriage of a Mamprusi princess and a Mande hunter. Yennenga is the name of the princess who doubled up as the daughter of a Mamprusi King in the Upper East, Ghana. According to Wikipedia, the Mossi can be directly traced to the Mamprusis and similarly, they live in the Upper East.
Why Do The Mossis Put On The “Seberie”?
The Mossis put on the “Seberie” for strength and protection, similar to Christians putting on the rosary or the Asantes putting on waist beads. Also, the “Seberie” is worn by both males and females of the Mossis and it is given to them when they reach childhood.
So in conclusion, the “Seberie” / “Laaya” is neither juju nor black magic but it is just an expression of the cultural values/believes of the people of Mossi.
Source: EonlineGH.com
