Ouagadougou: The promoter of the 3rd edition of the Dagara Cultural Tools and Products Fair (FOPCDA), Kaonfoa Paokour Armand Kussiel Meda, has called on technical and financial partners, as well as well-wishers, to support initiatives aimed at promoting the cultural tools and products of the Dagara people. He believes these initiatives contribute to cultural development and social cohesion in Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Mr. Meda stated that the creation of this fair arose from the observation that cultural promotion in Burkina Faso provides limited opportunities for cultural tools and products. He explained that the initiative is designed to preserve cultural knowledge and practices while strengthening social cohesion within communities, lamenting the lack of support for initiatives dedicated to promoting cultural artifacts.
The promoter, also the president of the Faso Cultural Region Association (ARCF), spoke at the National Museum of Ouagadougou during the third edition of FOPCDA, themed "The place of ash in the tradition of the Dagara people." He made a heartfelt plea to technical and financial partners and well-wishers to support the promotion of culture, emphasizing its contribution to the development of Burkina Faso.
Mr. Meda pointed out that despite numerous cultural activities, cultural tools and products are often neglected in promotional efforts. To address this issue, the ARCF has established a framework dedicated to promoting these elements of Dagara cultural heritage, highlighting a specific cultural object each year.
He recalled that the second edition of the fair focused on the traditional arrow, while the 2026 edition is dedicated to ash, an important element in the traditional practices of the Dagara people. According to him, structures involved in the collection and promotion of cultural tools and products play a vital role in safeguarding national heritage by creating collections that can enrich museums.
The promoter commended the State's efforts in promoting culture and traditions, while urging authorities to pay particular attention to cultural objects, which help preserve cultural identity and transmit traditional heritage to future generations.
The fair's sponsor, Touobar Edouard Kpil¨ Meda, praised the promoter's initiative, highlighting its role in promoting Dagara culture and the broader culture of Burkina Faso. He also encouraged the people of the Dj´r´ region to support the president of the ARCF in his efforts to promote their locality's cultural tools and products, emphasizing that culture is a vital element for the development of any country.