Pô, Nahouri – The Association of Customary People of Pô, Dui Poa Némaro, concluded the first edition of the Dui Poa Tchandia festival on May 11, 2024. This three-day event celebrated the region’s traditional chieftaincy through various cultural and sporting activities, culminating in a closing ceremony presided over by the Minister of National Education, Jacques Sosthène Dingara.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the customary chief of Tiakané and president of Dui Poa Némaro, the festival was themed around the role of customary leaders in promoting traditional cultural values to restore peace and social cohesion amid current security challenges. He expressed hope that the discussions initiated during the festival would contribute to a lasting peace in the region.

The festival’s activities included a parade featuring traditional and warrior dance troupes, and a notable football match where the traditionalists triumphed over the religious community with a score of 3-0. The events were designed to foster a deeper connection among the youth of Pô to their cultural heritage, encouraging them to integrate these values into their daily lives.

The ceremony also highlighted the cross-border fraternity and cultural bonds between Burkina Faso and Ghana, underscored by the presence of a delegation of traditional chiefs from Ghana led by ‘Kayooro-Pê’. This visit symbolized the enduring relationship and shared cultural values between the neighboring populations.

Additionally, the festival served as a platform to honor President Ibrahim Traoré’s initiative to establish a dedicated day for celebrating customs, which the traditional leaders of Pô lauded as a significant recognition and revalidation of their role in society.

The Minister of Education, during the ceremony, acknowledged the vital contributions of these traditional leaders towards fostering social cohesion and unity. The event concluded with a minute of silence in memory of the Defense and Security Forces who have fallen while defending the nation.