FESTIB 2024 Unveiled at Press Conference

Banfora – The Association for the Economic and Socio-cultural Development of the Cascades (ADESCA), in collaboration with the All Intègre Association, United for the Development of Bobo-Dioulasso (ATITUD/B), hosted a press conference on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Banfora, where they detailed the upcoming Banfora Integration Festival (FESTIB).

According to Burkina Information Agency, Brama Ouatara, the festival, inspired by the Bobo-Dioulasso integration festival now in its sixth edition, is scheduled from May 23 to 26, 2024. The inaugural FESTIB will feature around ten activities, including a women’s cycling race, an agro-pastoral workshop, a tourist outing, and a community and craft fair. The fair aims to showcase cultural artifacts from both local and outside communities of the Cascades region.

The festival will serve as a platform for the sons and daughters of the Cascades region and facilitate exchanges on ideas for economic and socio-cultural development. A panel discussion titled “Problem of accession to thrones in the Cascades and South-West regions: What strategy for peaceful successions” is also scheduled. Additionally, the ‘Miss Integrity’ competition will be held to promote the cultures of different communities, alongside nightly performances intended to highlight local artistic talents.

One significant milestone of the festival will be the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the National Identification Office (ONI) antenna in Banfora, with funds collected for this purpose totaling over 51 million to date. Ouatara emphasized ADESCA’s long-standing presence in the region, originally founded as the Mutual of Cliffs and Rice Fields before becoming ADESCO. He also noted the association’s involvement in reforestation activities and a recent donation of 500,000 FCFA towards peace efforts.