Ouagadougou: The land chief of the Bafuji ancestor, Kp©l©t© Hien, led ancestral rituals in the sacred woods on Thursday to mark the commemoration of the second edition of the National Day of Customs and Traditions of Burkina Faso. The ceremony began early in the morning at the home of the chief of the land, where the notables gathered around the sacred snack (reserved for those who are honest and upright), marked by the tasting of the first canari of dolo.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this moment of communion was followed by a walk to the central place of rituals, located in the sacred woods, where the mausoleum of the ancestor Bafuji is also located. There, the various stages were carried out according to custom: libations, invocations, and the immolation of animals as offerings. The first chicken was sacrificed in the name of the land chief, followed by those of the holder of the ritual knife, the notables, and the heads of families.

"This morning, we gathered here in the sacred woods to implore the spirits of our ancestors to watch over our country, our leaders, the Defense and Security Forces, as well as the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), so that peace may return to our dear homeland," declared His Majesty Bifate II. "We also asked for health, good rainfall, social cohesion and good living together among communities," His Majesty continued.

The official ceremony of the festivities is scheduled for 2 p.m., on the merchants' ground. Afterward, residents will be treated to a shopping street and popular entertainment.