Susu

Susu people are the third largest ethnic group in Guinea. Aside from Guinea, there are also communities of Susu people in Sierra Leone and Senegal. Estimates indicate that they number upwards of 1 million, with about 900,000 or so in Guinea and constituting about 20% of the nation's population. The Susu are believed to be descendants of the 12th- and 13th-century Takur kingdom called Sosso (Susu), which was ruled by Soumaore Kante (also known as Sumanguru). Sumanguru was defeated by Sundiata Keita in 1235 at the battle of Kirina, leading to the collapse of the Sosso kingdom and the formation of the Mali Empire. In 1725, the Susu are said to have moved to their present location to escape Fulani domination and conversion to Islam.

Precolonial Guinea was homeland to several ethnic groups, prominent among them being the Mandinka (Malinke), Fulani, and Susu. From indications, the Susu people were one of the earliest inhabitants of the region. Beginning in the 15th century, Fulani herders migrated from the Futa Toro Empire in the area of present-day Senegal to the Fouta Djallon highlands. Gradually, they conquered the whole area and created an autonomous Islamic theocracy—the longest in Africa. Although the early batch of the Fulani migrants followed traditional African practices, subsequent ones were largely Muslims who not only sought to introduce their religious beliefs and practices in the area, but also enforced them. Eventually, they formed a strong Islamic theocratic state. By the 18th century, Fouta Djallon was a strictly hierarchical society with a ruling class essentially led by two families, the Alfyas and Soriyas. It was from these families that leaders called alimamies were chosen. At the bottom of the social ladder were non-Muslim Fulanis and non-Fulanis, such as the Susu people who served as artisans, menial workers, and slaves.

To escape repressive rule and virtual servitude, the Susu people moved to the coastal areas of lower Guinea. They established trade relations with the Portuguese, who had been trading in West Africa since the 15th century and later with the French, Guinea's colonial masters. To this day, the Susu people largely occupy the coastal areas of Guinea, where many of them make a living through fishing and the production of salt. A good number of Susu people are also farmers who cultivate millet and rice (the two principal crops in Guinea), mangoes, pineapples, and coconuts. The Susu are also noted for their craftsmanship, particularly in the use of metal and leather and also for their skill at trading.

Except for a difference in language, the Susu share similar customs, beliefs, and practices with the other large ethnic groups, such as the Malinke and Fulani. Like other ethnic groups in Guinea, the Susu people speak an indigenous language besides French, the Guinean national language. The Susu language, also called Susu, is similar to that of the Yalunka, another ethnic group in Guinea. In fact, both languages belong to the Niger-Congo-Mande language group prevalent in many West African States. The similarity between the two languages has led some to speculate that the Susu and Yalunka people used to be one ethnic group living in the Fouta Djallon region before they were separated by the Fulani people.

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