Introduction / History

Originally from Ghana, the Kaan migrated to southwestern Burkina Faso and settled near the town of Loropeni. The Kaan speak the Kaanse language and number about 6,000 in Burkina Faso. There are also many Kaase who have moved to Cote d'Ivoire to live and work.

Unlike many other ethnic groups in the region, the Kaan peoples have retained their traditional system of leadership headed by a king who is elected from the royal clan and rules for life. He judges matters pertaining to the royal family. The Kaan can be characterized as being hard-working and peaceful. They grow millet as their staple crop and supplement their diet with green leaves, nuts, beans, yams, corn, and tomatoes.

The Kaan are Almost all adherents of their local traditional religion and have, until recently, held firmly to their traditions. The Kaan king is the guardian of the group's traditional fetishes which are at the heart of their animistic religion. Their neighbors, the Lobis, have had missionaries working among them for over fifty years and it was through them that the Gospel has spread to the Kaan. In 1986 the first Kaan professed faith in Christ and now there is a vibrant group of Christians in the region. Six young Kaan men are in training to become pastors. Currently, missionaries are working among the Kaan doing literacy and Bible translation.