Pô Hosts Conference on Preserving Burkinabè Culture and Identity

PÔ – The town of Pô in Nahouri province was the venue for a significant conference on March 23, 2024, focusing on the preservation of Burkinabè national identity and culture amid challenges posed by Western influences. The event, orchestrated by the African Initiative Association, featured discussions led by notable figures including Dr. Hyacinthe Ouédraogo, Hassane Bazongbié Bationo, Adama Amadé Siguiré, and Evgeniya Tikhonova from the Russian house in Burkina Faso.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the conference aimed to address Burkina Faso’s endeavor to delineate itself from the lingering effects of neocolonialism, spanning various facets of society such as politics, economy, culture, and social norms. The engagement sought to rally the Nahouri populace behind the nation’s strategic pivot and foster a collective understanding and appreciation of Burkinabè heritage and identity, particularly in the face of perceived Western encroachments.

The gathering illuminated various aspects of national policy related to cultural preservation, the perceived threats from Western policies, and their potential repercussions on Burkina Faso’s socio-cultural fabric. Community members, including students, women’s groups, religious and traditional leaders, and educators, engaged in dialogues designed to dissect and deliberate on these issues comprehensively.

Participants expressed a collective resolve to support transitional governance in Burkina Faso and emphasized the role of cultural and patriotic values in fortifying national identity. The conference concluded with affirmations of the participants’ commitment to self-determined development and a call for continued dialogue on safeguarding Burkinabè cultural integrity.

Jérôme Pahoulabou, representing Pô’s local authorities, lauded the initiative and the insightful discussions, advocating for further such engagements to deepen communal understanding of Burkinabè values and the overarching framework of national identity preservation.