Gaoua – The city of Gaoua hosted a public conference on Thursday, May 16, 2024, to coincide with the local celebration of customs and traditions day.

According to Burkina Information Agency, a recognized defender of traditional culture who spoke during the event, the conference addressed the themes of customs in strengthening peace and social cohesion, and the historical joking kinship among regional ethnic groups.

The conference, organized by the canton of Gaoua, featured discussions led by Traoré and Dr. Ollo Pépin Hien, a university lecturer. Traoré emphasized the erosion of African culture by foreign influences, stating, “We have lost our soul, our dignity, and the love of our ancestors,” underscoring the impact of abandoning traditional African education for Western styles and adding foreign religions. Dr. Hien elaborated on the social function of joking relationships, which historically fostered solidarity and mediated social tensions through playful insults and mockery among the peoples of the South-West and the Sénoufo, Gouin, Turka, and related groups. He noted that these cultural practices are diminishing.

The head of the Gaoua Canton, Bifaté II, expressed a desire to revitalize local customs and traditions and discussed their importance in maintaining social cohesion. He called for a global gathering of the Lobi people to celebrate and deliberate on their cultural heritage.