Summary (History of the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro from 1969 to 2020)

N'guessan Bernard Kouamé^§

Summary: Botro is located in the northern Baoulé region. It was a late arrival for missionaries. The parish was established in 1969. It was the work of missionaries from Bouaké who benefited from external support. Setting up the parish was not easy, as the site allocated to them was difficult to access. Despite the difficulties, the missionaries succeeded in achieving their goal of establishing the parish. They used effective methods and appropriate strategies to succeed in converting a population steeped in fetishism. As a result, a number of transformations took place within society, with the corollary of intensified social cohesion.

Key word: Botro, Evangelism, Awareness, Methods, Implantation

Abstract: Botro is a locality in the northern part of the Baule region. This locality received the visit of missionaries late in life. It was in 1969 that the parish was established. It was the work of missionaries from Bouaké who benefited from external support. The establishment was not easy because the site allocated to them was difficult to access. Despite the difficulties, the missionaries succeeded in achieving their objective of establishing the parish. They used effective methods and strategies to overcome the fetishistic population. As a result, several transformations took place in the society with the corollary of intensifying social cohesion.

Keywords: Social action, Botro, Evangelisation, History, Implantation, Influence, Methods, Awareness

Introduction

Botro is a town in Côte d'Ivoire located in the Espace-Nord du Baoulé, more precisely in the Gbêkê region. It was created by decree n°2008-96 of March 05, 2008. Botro department covers an area of 1,220 ^km2. It is bordered to the north by the departments of Katiola and Mankono, to the south by Sakassou, to the east by Bouaké and to the west by Béoumi (Rezoivoire). The sub-equatorial climate gives rise to grassy savannah vegetation in the north and wooded savannah in the south. The Botro sub-prefecture has a population of 27,854 according to 2012 estimated figures communicated by the Institut National de la Statistique (INS). This county town is part of the Satiklan canton, of which it is the seat. This canton comprises some fifty villages with a population largely made up of Baoulé ethnic sub-groups commonly known as Satiklan and immigrant populations, mostly Malinké. The Baule sub-group settled in this part of the Gbêkê region in the ^18th century. Long anchored in traditional religions, the Baoulé - Satiklan of this locality recorded the advent of the Christian religion, known as the modern religion (Koffi 137). Despite the deep roots of animism, Christianity, through Catholicism, succeeded in establishing itself in 1969. This took shape not only with the establishment and consecration of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish, but also and above all with the arrival and work of a builder priest, Father Michel Conver.^[1]. The year 2020 marks an essential event in the life of the parish. It corresponds to the parish's fiftieth anniversary, which has enabled those in charge to take stock of the activities carried out since the parish was established, and to look ahead to the future. The study is of interest because it takes stock of the actions carried out by the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish after fifty years of existence. With this in mind, how can we explain the gradual establishment of the Paroisse Saint Gabriel de Botro? The aim of this study is to show the various stages in the establishment of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish, its organization, operation and influence.

To answer this question, a number of investigations were carried out. First of all, documentation centers were given priority. Then, websites were consulted to verify certain information. Encyclopedias and dictionaries were also used to define certain terms related to the subject. Finally, field or oral surveys were carried out to verify the veracity of the information gathered. All these methodological approaches led to a three-part plan. The first part deals with the process of setting up the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish. The second part focuses on the organization and operation of the parish. Finally, the third part deals with the outreach of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish.

1. How Saint Gabriel de Botro parish was established

The establishment of the Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus Cathedral in Bouaké in 1962 contributed enormously to the spread of Catholicism in the Espace-Nord du Baoulé. It enabled the various missionaries to visit all sectors of this zone (Kouamé 259). It was in this context that the first missionaries left Bouaké to establish the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro. This parish is part of the diocese of the Cathédrale Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus de Bouaké, although it is under the supervision of the Paroisse Notre Dame de la Paix de Béoumi.

1.1. The missionaries' actions

In 1969, Botro welcomed the arrival of the first missionaries from Bouaké. The delegation was led by Father Michel Conver. He decided to talk directly with the village authorities. His main objective was to obtain a site for the construction of the parish. He was received by the then canton chief, Toto Kra I, who allocated him a large site in a dense and dangerous forest, home to dangerous animals and large snakes.^[2]. All this to discourage the missionaries. The presence of these dangerous animals and reptiles did not shake the missionaries' faith. The parish was therefore built at the same time, in 1969, under the name of Saint Gabriel de Botro.

Once the parish had been built, the need for faithful was obvious, prompting the first missionaries to take concrete action. For communication in the vernacular, Father Michel Conver enlisted the help of a number of faithful from the Notre Dame de la Paix parish in Béoumi. They have opted for this approach. According to Kouassi^[3] they proceeded through visits. They visited certain families, sharing African and European dishes with the members of these different families. It was a source of pride for them to be visited by the white man. Often at midday, the missionaries would visit other families in the field, bringing them water. As they did so, they took the opportunity to talk to these families about the Lord Jesus Christ. So they took the opportunity to take pictures with these families. As a sign of their good courtesy, some of the families they visited converted to Christianity. These visits were followed by other social activities. These included the distribution of gifts in kind such as sacks of rice, oil, salt, meat, clothing of all kinds, soap and shoes to the whole community in general and the widows of the royal court in particular. As far as cash donations were concerned, the missionaries financed some families' work in the fields. Others, such as Assamoi Albert and Kouassi Blé Joseph, received oxen which enabled them to plough their fields and build a house each. During mission vacations, they spent time in France with the missionaries. During the first Masses, the collected collection was redistributed to Mass participants. For the first converts, weddings were organized free of charge by the missionaries. Spiritual formation and literacy courses were organized. Training in sewing, ironwork, mechanics and carpentry was also initiated.^[4]. The actions of the first missionaries were social and based on training. This enabled a good number of people to convert to Christianity, providing human resources for evangelization.

1.2. Evangelization 

The evangelization of the new parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro was the work of the first missionaries, with the effective participation of the first converts. Two methods of evangelization were adopted: open-air evangelization and door-to-door evangelization.

Open-air evangelism is a type of evangelism that takes place in the public square, in the presence of new converts, non-converts and sometimes customary authorities. On the menu were screenings of Christian films, commonly known in the vernacular as " talê oun koffi ". These screenings take place every Friday evening.^[5]. All the films expose the powerlessness of the local gods or fetishes. Other films tell the story of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the power of God through him. The aim of showing these films is to raise awareness and change the mentality of animists and fetishists, whom the missionaries consider to be backward. The program has been well received, with conversions occurring in large numbers.^[6]. However, no traditional chief or customary authority accepted the conversion. According to Kouassi, the conversion of a chief or a member of his family is punishable by very severe penalties. The latter suffers either the death penalty or banishment from the village, and is cursed forever. As a result, some people prefer to stay at home so as not to be tempted by the conversion effect. Others have engaged in acts of vandalism to prevent the spread of the gospel. Indeed, during Sunday gatherings, villagers, in agreement with certain customary authorities, bring out sacred masks forbidden to women to disrupt masses (Kouamé 271). The mask in question is the Gbosso, which is highly reputed in this locality, as it is not only forbidden to uninitiated men, but also and above all to women, due to its mystical powers. All kinds of persecution were employed to discourage the missionaries, but despite everything, they persevered in their work. This led them to organize another type of door-to-door evangelization.

Door-to-door evangelism did not differ greatly from the actions of the early missionaries. However, for this other method, a dynamic team was formed. It was made up of early missionaries and early parishioners. Before going out into the field, the missionaries initiated training sessions on Bible knowledge and evangelization techniques, not forgetting literacy courses. This method obliged the missionaries to learn the vernacular language, Baoulé-Satiklan. In 1980, Father Michel Conver translated part of the Bible and songbooks into Baoulé. He produced several copies and distributed them to the local population. This translation of part of the Bible into Baule was followed by the teaching of the Baule syllabary to the first parishioners in charge of evangelization. Donations in kind were also collected for these door-to-door sessions. These donations enabled them to gain access to different members of different families. This face-to-face contact, with the same Baule-Satiklan language spoken by the white man, and the donations offered to the various families, proved successful, with many people converting to Christianity. The success of these evangelization sessions was made possible by the Catholic administration and the Notre Dame de la Paix parish in Béoumi.

1.3. Actions taken by the Catholic administration

The actions of the Catholic administration were limited to financing the activities of the first missionaries and to diplomacy. In 1970, the first baptismal candidates from Botro's Saint Gabriel parish were baptized in the Béoumi parish. These two administrative entities played a decisive role in financing missionary work in Botro. These funds enabled the purchase of bags of rice, salt and soap, which were used as donations to support the missionary work. These donations were supplemented by other fees paid to village authorities (Carteron 3). These are sums of money paid to village authorities to convince them to gain access to certain strategic locations.

In addition, the Catholic administration provided the missionaries with clothing, shoes, etc. for destitute families (Dhumeau 18). With regard to diplomacy, the Catholic administration in Bouaké and Béoumi played a mediating role. This role consisted in channelling needs relating to the missionary fields to the Vatican via the base in Abidjan. These needs consisted of human and ecclesiastical resources.

 In fact, priests are assigned according to the specific missionary fields and vocations that characterize each priest. In other words, there are missionary priests, evangelist priests and priests who not only teach the Word of God, but also, and above all, educate (Trichet 198). Also, priests have a perfect mastery of trades such as masonry, carpentry, etc. (Cartéron 41). This mastery of trades enabled the missionaries to build the Botro parish themselves. They received building materials from the Catholic administration.^[7]. On the ecclesiastical front, the Catholic administration invested in the training of priests according to the realities of the missionary fields. ^[8]

2. The organization and operation of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish

To be effective in its work, the parish has put in place an appropriate organization that has enabled it to function normally in order to achieve the objectives it has set itself. This has enabled it to put in place structures that have made the parish one of the most influential in the region.

2.1. The organization of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish

2.1.1. The church office

It is an office whose positions of responsibility are held by parish elders. It comprised several entities. It is a hierarchical office headed by the Curé. He was assisted by a vicar. Next came the Parish Council. This consists of 12 members. It meets weekly, i.e. every Friday evening from 6pm to 8pm. All the members of the Parish Office are leaders of the various Parish activity groups. The Parish Office is chaired by the Parish Priest, assisted by a lay member. Since 2012, the Botro parish priest has been assisted by Ouattara Simone. The economic affairs committee is also part of this organization. According to Messou^[9]this commission is in charge of economic affairs. It is chaired by the parish priest and meets once a week or in extraordinary session. Finally, there is the basic ecclesiastical community. These are groupings of the Catholic faithful in prayer cells in villages or neighborhoods. Each cell is led by an elder, designated as the C.E.B. (Communauté Ecclesiastique de Base) leader.^[10]. From 1969 to 2020, eight priests have succeeded one another at the head of the parish. The table below shows the list of priests since the creation of Saint Gabriel de Botro parish.

Table: Priests of Saint Gabriel de Botro Parish from 1969 to 2020^[11]

Order	Full name	Fiscal year	Vocation	Nationality
1st	Father Michel Conver	1969 - 1987	Missionary	French
2nd	Father Louis Roland	1987 - 1998	Charismatic	French
3rd	Father Bruno Kouassi	1998 - 2001	Evangelist	Ivorian
4th	Father Germain N'guessan	2001 - 2003	Charismatic	Ivorian
5th	Father Emmanuel N'guessan	2003 - 2006	Builder	Ivorian
6th	Father Léonard Tanoh	2006 - 2008	Missionary	Ivorian
7th	Father Modeste Éric Kouakou	2008 - 2016	Builder	Ivorian
8th	Father Djê Salomon Kouadio	2016 - 2020	Evangelist	Ivorian

2.1.2. Parish associations and commissions

Associations and commissions are established under the supervision of the ecclesiastical office. Firstly, there is an Association of Catholic Women (AFEC) within the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish. According to Ouattara^[12]this association aims to bring together all the women of the parish in order to train them for evangelization. Since 2015, this association has been chaired by Bla Amoin Thrèse. Then there's the association called Jeunesse Estudiantine Catholique de Botro (JECB). Its mission is to bring together young parishioners for concrete actions to spread the Gospel. It is chaired by Kokoun Ghislain, a senior student at Botro's Lycée Moderne during the 2019-2020 school year. Finally, there is the Commission Saints Enfants, (CSE). This Commission has two entities. Altar boys and altar boys vaillant âme vaillante, (CVAV). Altar boys help the father during the celebration of Mass, often carrying the sacraments and the father's sack. Les enfants de chœur vaillant âme vaillante are a core group of children who undergo biblical training. They are sometimes selected to give Bible lessons to catechists.

2.2. The operation of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish

2.2.1. Training in Catholic doctrines

After its establishment, the parish first focused on training the faithful. This involved two institutions: catechesis and the Catholic elementary school. Catechetics was created in 1971. The first trainer was Father Michel Conver. The aim was to introduce parishioners to Catholic doctrine and help them develop their faith. Initially intended for children, this training reaches all categories, namely the elderly, adults and children^[13]. Training takes place every Friday from six in the evening.

 In addition to these doctrines, the importance of the sacrament is taught in catechesis. As for the elementary school, it broadens the scope of the Catholic project. All communities of different religious persuasions are grouped together within the school. They comply with the school's requirements, which include morning prayer before classes start, at midday and in the evening. In turn, each student is obliged to lead the prayer according to the teaching he or she has received. To this end, it is imperative for each student to know Catholic doctrines, prayer and teachings. All teachers at the school are members of the Catholic mission.^[14].

2.2.2. Awareness campaigns and vaccination sessions

After its establishment, the parish became involved in a number of social initiatives. The first was the fight against bush fires. Starting in 2000, Father Bruno Kouassi led an awareness campaign against bush fires, with the participation of parishioners. This recurrent phenomenon in Botro sometimes caused enormous damage. These included significant material damage, loss of human life and the destruction of food crops and industrial crops such as yam and cashew fields.^[15]. In 1999, the village of Tionankro, ten kilometers from Botro on the Botro-Dabakala axis, was virtually destroyed by bush fires. This was compounded by the disappearance of plant and animal species. This campaign had the support of the customary authorities, the water and forestry cantonment, the gendarmerie, the town hall and the sub-prefecture.

The second awareness-raising initiative is the fight against excision. In 2006, Father Léonard Tanoh led a campaign against excision in the Botro department. This initiative was also supported by traditional and administrative authorities.

The third action concerns vaccination campaigns initiated by the parish. Every year, the parish launches a vaccination campaign for children, whether parishioners or not. All these actions have been beneficial to the development of the parish. As a result, the parish has spread throughout the Gbêkê region, and more specifically in the Espace-Nord du Baoulé area.^[16].

3. The influence of the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro

The organization we have put in place has enabled the parish to function efficiently. The actions undertaken have contributed to the parish's social and cultural influence.

3.1. Social influence of the parish    

Social influence is one of the strong points of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish. In fact, to put its money where its mouth is, the parish focuses on social projects. These include education and the construction of twenty-four rented stores. The Catholic elementary school was built on the parish grounds in 2002. This six-classroom school contributes not only to the education of learners, but also and above all to financing the parish's activities. The stores are made available to the population for a rental fee. The rental fees provide the parish with the necessary funds to alleviate financial difficulties^[17]. These social works have prompted the village and administrative authorities to re-engage with the parish. Thus, in 2017, Father Djê Salomon Kouadio, the eighth parish priest to head the parish, received an honorary title making him a development player in the department of Botro^[18]. The establishment of the parish has also strengthened ties. Parishioners now live in perfect harmony. They experience fraternal communion, sharing sorrows and joys together. When a parishioner or family member dies, the parish organizes a dignified funeral with prayer. The parish is also part of the decision-making process. Indeed, it is sometimes consulted by the canton chief Toto Kra III before handing down verdicts that fall under his authority. ^[19]. It should be noted that it was during the reign of Toto Kra III that the parish leaders were called upon to take decisions. It was this collaboration that enabled the parish to carry out campaigns against certain practices, such as excision and bush fires.^[20].

3.2. The cultural influence of the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro

 Thanks to the establishment of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish, cultural changes have taken place. Female circumcision, once a compulsory step for young girls, is now taboo. All families, including non-Christian ones, have agreed to abandon this devastating practice. Young girls can now marry without constraint. Christian names are also given to children, in addition to the existing African names. Acts of banditry and delinquency have diminished in favor of dignified, responsible behavior. Most prohibitions and totems have been abandoned. Before the advent of Christianity, certain crops such as groundnuts were not grown in the region. But with the advent of religion, the order was given by canton chief Toto Kra III to cultivate these crops because of the collaboration that now exists between Christians and him^[21]. Henceforth, the converted consumed food and meat without fear.

According to Kouassi Blé, the first parishioners were characterized by an unshakeable faith, which enabled the parish to overcome all kinds of persecution^[22]. The traditional calendar is no longer respected. In Baule villages, some days are declared public holidays. During the week, two or three days may be decreed. Most often, these days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday. No country activities are carried out. All offenders must make sacrifices to appease the wrath of the gods. Traditional dances such as the Do, Adjanou and Allangba no longer meet with unanimous approval, as many followers, mostly women, who have become Christians, have resigned their positions of responsibility in favor of Christianity. Christianity finally values monogamous marriage to the detriment of polygamy^[23].

Conclusion

At the end of this study, it should be noted that the establishment of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish was the work of the first missionaries. After the success of the Catholic missions in Bouaké, the missionaries decided to extend their activities throughout the Espace-Nord du Baoulé. The establishment of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish was part of this process. Several methods were used to establish this parish. These methods have paid off, as conversions have taken place. In carrying out their ministry, the missionaries benefited from the support of the Catholic administration, enabling them to intervene in all areas of concern to the target population. Despite these conversions and the establishment of the parish, the task has not been easy. Some persecutions have been recorded. But to succeed in this mission, the missionaries used strategies to blend into society; these strategies paid off, as they led to collaboration with customary leaders. Once the parish was established, a number of changes took place in society, and more specifically in the lives of the new converts. These changes have had an impact on the population of Botro in general, and on the lives of the new converts in particular.

Sources and works cited

Oral sources

Full name	Ages	Identity	Survey date	Survey theme
Kouassi Blé Joseph	65 years old	First faithful of Saint Gabriel de Botro parish since 1969	14/11/2020	Saint Gabriel de Botro parish location
Messou Koffi Julius Caesar	33 years old	Parish secretary since 2010	14/11/2020	Evolution and organization of the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro
Messou Olivier	33 years old	First person responsible for the heritage of the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro	15/11/2020	Relations between the community and the first missionaries
Ouattara Simone	45 years old	Vice - president of the parish office.	15/11/2020	Saint Gabriel de Botro parish organization
Father Gnamien Julien	47 years old	Priest of the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro	14/11/2020	Parish operations
Souaga Patricia	42 years old	Former secretary of the parish of Saint Gabriel de Botro	14/11/2020	The role of Catholic administration in early missionary activities
Toto Kra II	73 years old	Chief township of Botro	15/11/2020	Definition of Botro and the church's contribution to crisis resolution.

Electronic source

https://rezoivoire.net/ivoire/villes-villages/1897/botro.html#.YW3t7yjMfIU consulted on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 10:10 p.m. in Bouaké

Works quoted

Carteron, Mihel. Eglise de Bouaké: Commencement, Bouaké, 1995.

Dhumeau, Jean. L'Eglise catholique à Bouaké 1925 - 1975, Bouaké, 1975

Kouame, N'guessan Bernard. Les mutations socioéconomiques dans le baoulé - nord de 1850 à 1973, unique doctoral thesis in contemporary history, Université Alassane Ouattara (Bouaké - côte d'Ivoire), 2015.

Trichet, Pierre. Côte d'Ivoire: Les premiers pas d'une église, tome 3: 1940 - 1960, Abidjan, La Nouvelle, 1994.

Koffi, Kouamé Mélesse. la chefferie de Satiklan à l'épreuve des changements socio-politiques en côte d'ivoire, de 1850 à 1982, unique doctoral thesis in contemporary history, Université Alassane Ouattara (Bouaké - côte d'Ivoire), 2020.

How to cite this article:

MLA: Kouamé, N'guessan Bernard. "History of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish from 1969 to 2020." Uirtus 1.2 (December 2021): 528-542.

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§ Université Alassane Ouattara / [email protected]

[1 ] He was the first missionary of the Saint Gabriel de Botro parish. He lived in Bouaké at the Cathedral of Saint Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus in 1964. He was a member of the Société des Missions Africaines (SMA).

[2] Kouassi Blé Joseph, parishioner since 1969, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 at his home in Botro.

[3] Kouassi Blé Joseph, parishioner since 1969, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 at his home in Botro.

[4] Messou Koffi Jules César, parish secretary since 2010, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 in Botro within the parish. He has been the parish secretary since 2010.

[5] Souaga Patricia, former parish secretary, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro at the parish.

[6] Kouassi Blé Joseph, parishioner since 1969, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 at his home in Botro.

[7] Messou Koffi Jules César, parish secretary since 2010, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 in Botro within the parish. He has been the parish secretary since 2010.

[8] Gnamien Julien, current parish priest, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro at the parish.

[9] Messou Koffi Jules César, parish secretary since 2010, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 in Botro within the parish. He has been the parish secretary since 2010.

[10]Gnamien Julien, current parish priest, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro.

[11] Gnamien julien, current parish priest, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro.

[12] Ouattara Simone, vice - president of the parish office and secretary to the mayor of Botro, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro within the parish.

[13] Gnamien Julien, current priest of Botro, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro.

[14] Kouassi Blé Joseph, parishioner since 1969, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 at his home in Botro.

[15] Messou Koffi Jules César, parish secretary since 2010, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 in Botro within the parish.

[16] Messou Koffi Jules César, parish secretary since 2010, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 in Botro within the parish.

[17] Messou Olivier, the parish's first heritage officer, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro.

[18] Gnamien Julien, current parish priest, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro at the parish.

[19] Kouassi Blé Joseph, parishioner since 1969, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 at his home in Botro.

[20] Toto Kra III, current chef canton of Botro, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro.

[21] Toto Kra III, current chief township of Botro, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro in the royal courtyard.

[22] Kouassi Blé Joseph, parishioner since 1969, interview conducted on November 14, 2020 at his home in Botro.

[23] Messou Olivier, the parish's first heritage officer, interview conducted on November 15, 2020 in Botro.