Ouagadougou: The promoter of the International Festival of Traditional Instruments and Dances of Ouagadougou (FITO), Marc Koussoub©, announced Thursday during a conference that the participation of the Sembla and Bwaba communities in the third edition of the cultural event aims to promote the culture of Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the major innovation of the 2025 edition is the participation of two guest communities of honor: the Sembla and Bwaba. Mr. Koussoub©, also president of the event's organizing committee, specified that 20 traditional dance troupes will take part in the festival, which will be held from May 29 to June 1, 2025, at the Ouagadougou National Museum.
The festival promoter, who spoke to journalists on Thursday, stressed that the 3rd edition of FITO, which will be held under the theme, "Youth and Culture: What are the benchmarks for our society of tomorrow," is intended to be a space for the transmission and promotion of positive African cultural values. According to him, after two successful editions, despite a challenging security and socio-economic context, FITO wants to make the preservation of cultural heritage its main focus for a prosperous Burkina.
"At a time of national reconstruction, it is more necessary than ever to take an interest in the cultural references that we transmit to our youth, the foundation of any society," he argued. Marc Koussoub© also noted that the Sambla, originally from the Hauts-Bassins regions, and the Bwaba, mostly settled in the Boucle du Mouhoun, have a rich and varied cultural heritage.
According to the chairman of the festival's organizing committee, each of the two municipalities will be represented by two traditional dance troupes, an exhibition of cultural objects, and local dishes. "FITO is an initiative of the La Source association, dedicated to the promotion, enhancement, and preservation of traditional instruments and dances, the tangible and intangible heritage of our country and the African continent," he noted.
Several activities are scheduled over the four days of the event. These include performances by traditional instrumental troupes and artists, public lectures, a shopping street, introductory workshops on traditional instruments, and entrepreneurship training related to livestock farming and project development. Mr. Koussoub© called on the people of Ouagadougou to participate massively in the festival to make it a success.
As a reminder, the 3rd edition of FITO 2025 is under the patronage of the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, Pingdwend© Gilbert Ou©draogo.