«In all things excess is harmful», is the common saying. While it is difficult to know how this relationship came into being, it is equally difficult to determine the limits which may not be exceeded. As can be seen from practice, the «relationship» covers a whole gamut of individuals and groups. It can exist between members of the same family, between villages and its neighbours, between allies or between tribes, the latter being the most common case in Burkina Faso.

Custom which has this practice at its disposal (the rules not being expressed anywhere), uses Joking Relationship as a form of community outlet, where war is simulated so that it is not really waged. Like all customary laws, interpretation has force of law. Taking each case or person individually, the safeguards are determined. Clearly it is up to each participant in the game to find the limits which may not be overstepped, in order not to break the tacit contract which has been established by custom. Nevertheless, some principles which can be called general have been set forth.

Thus, in Joking Relationships between tribes, some forbid reference to one’s mother. It is, therefore, forbidden to attack an adversary’s mother. Likewise, in interlaced marriages, between collaterals for example, it is understood that the younger brother of the husband and his wife are favourite protagonists.

But the latitude which the two have with regard to each other, should not breach the barrier of sex. Sex is one of the most solid safeguards in Joking Relationships. If the rule means that everything is allowed, the prohibition of sexual relations is the exception which confirms the rule. Likewise a Joking Relationship is forbidden among spouses, whose marriage bond could not be considered a joke.

When all is said and done, in traditional society, in which it is a regulatory element, a Joking Relationship has only some rare prohibitions but no limits. It can range from a simple discourteous remark to outright abuse, and even to what can be considered a profanation, for in spite of the respect shown in our society to death, the corpse of a relation with whom one has a Joking Relationship, can be an object of fun without further ado. The aim is to break the tension and reduce the sorrow of relatives by trivialisation of the proceedings.

If Joking Relations go back to the dawn of time, the slip-ups which it can bring about are extremely rare, if non-existent. On the contrary, it is very highly spoken of and there are countries which envy Burkina. That is why perhaps, people would like to prescribe it for societies which have recurrent ethnic conflicts, such as in the countries of the Great Lakes region. They could content themselves in simulating war by the game of joking, in order to avoid going to war in earnest. Some people suggest that where political dialogue has failed, a Joking Relationship can succeed perfectly in the name of harmony and loyalty which characterise this kind of relationship.

A Joking Relationship is therefore, a precious fall-back in African traditional society. It should endeavour to preserve it carefully, for it is an instrument for the resolution of conflicts. Unfortunately, it must be admitted that nowadays, people confronted with many problems, tend to neglect Joking Relationships and even consider it as an anachronism.