Zoula: The 7th edition of the Zoula Tam-Tam Festival (FESTAM-Z), a lever for resilience and local development, officially opened its doors on Friday, May 15, in Zoula in the Sangui© province. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, this biennial event has established itself as a lever for resilience and local development through the promotion of Burkinabe cultural heritage.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the theme for this year's FESTAM-Z is "Trade and Local Development," and the event has brought together administrative, traditional, and religious authorities, along with thousands of festival-goers. The festival, scheduled from May 14-17, 2026, aims to showcase national unity amidst ongoing security challenges in the region.

Antoine Bama, the festival's promoter, highlighted that this tenth anniversary represents a significant milestone of perseverance and dedication to culture, social cohesion, and local development. During his address, Bama thanked the people of Sangui© for their support and introduced the major innovations for this edition.

While maintaining traditional activities such as wrestling, storytelling, and local cuisine, FESTAM-Z 2026 has introduced new elements like competitions in traditional dance and song, technological inventions for rural communities, an agro-sylvo-pastoral fair, and special evenings dedicated to the Communities, Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Defense and Security Forces (FDS), and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP).

Bely Bayala, representing the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, commended the organizers for consistently holding the event despite financial constraints. He highlighted the creation of a platform for young talent in the province and expressed hope for the inclusion of the Sangui© traditional dance performance in the next National Culture Week (SNC) in Bobo-Dioulasso.

Bernard Kabr©, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, applauded the festival for maintaining its core values while also evolving. He pointed out the economic significance of the festival in contributing to the development of Burkina Faso, underscoring the importance of culture as a sustaining force.

Over the four days, Zoula will be enlivened with panel discussions on endogenous development, exhibitions, a women's cycling race, and artistic performances, emphasizing the region's dedication to peace and solidarity.