Guruna, a Practice of Pastoral, Socio-Cultural and Artistic Retreats Centered on Livestock Among the Massa

Guruna is a pastoral and cultural retreat practiced by the Massa community living on both sides of the Logone River in Chad and Cameroon. Held once a year, it brings young boys and men together with their cattle in a camp away from home, where they learn practical, social, and artistic skills.
Although girls do not stay overnight, they take part by helping with food preparation and decorations. The retreat teaches cattle breeding, animal care, wrestling, music, dance, handicrafts, community history, and social values.
Knowledge is passed down through oral instruction, observation, imitation, and guidance from fathers, elders, Guruna masters, and community leaders. The practice strengthens respect for elders, discipline, teamwork, cultural identity, and the bond between the community and livestock.

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Guruna, a Practice of Pastoral, Socio-Cultural and Artistic Retreats Centered on Livestock Among the Massa was inscribed in 2025 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Chad, Cameroon.