Kaya: Minister Pingwende Gilbert Ouedraogo of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism visited the Kaya African furnaces on Friday, November 21, 2025. Accompanied by local authorities, the Minister was able to fully appreciate the ancestral technique of iron smelting.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister expressed the significance of the cultural heritage found at the ancient iron metallurgy site of the Passate Cultural Association in Kaya. He noted that this part of the country's heritage is not sufficiently recognized or known. During his visit, he witnessed the traditional iron smelting process and acknowledged the association's efforts in preserving this ancient knowledge.

The Minister commended the association, which has been dedicated to preserving and promoting pre-colonial African know-how for over 20 years. He asserted that Africa's scientific roots are deeply entrenched in its ancient technologies. Despite the continent's delayed transition to modernity, he believes these technologies hold significant value today. This aligns with the vision of Burkina Faso's President, Captain Ibrahim Traore, who advocates for industrialization based on local resources.

Emphasizing the importance of ancestral technologies for youth employment, the Minister encouraged young people to learn these skills, suggesting they could provide numerous job opportunities. He referenced projects like Faso Rail as potential employment avenues.

Jacob Bamogo, president of the Passate Cultural Association, expressed his joy at the Minister's visit, noting it was the first time in over two decades that a Minister of Culture had witnessed iron extraction at their site. The site, located in the heart of Kaya, features about twenty ancestral furnaces from various West African countries and blacksmithing communities in Burkina Faso. Bamogo hopes to establish training centers at the site to pass on this ancestral know-how to future generations.