Ouagadougou: Around thirty works and stands were recognized with prizes amounting to 35 million 300 thousand CFA francs at the 17th edition of the Ouagadougou International Crafts Fair (SIAO). The awards ceremony took place during the biennial’s closing event, presided over by Prime Minister Dr. Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélem of Tambèla.
According to Burkina Information Agency, artisans competed in various categories including the Grand Prize of the President of Faso, the prize for the stands of the Burkina Faso regional pole awarded by the president of the Transitional Legislative Assembly (ALT), and the prize for creativity, as well as several special prizes. The Grand Prize of the President of Faso, worth 6.5 million CFA francs, was granted to the best country stands, with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso securing the top three positions in order of merit.
The prize for the best stands from the Burkina Faso regional pole, valued at 4.5 million CFA francs, was awarded to Inoussa Diallo from Hauts-Bassins, Che
ick Oumar Diallo from Cascades, and Adama Ouédraogo from the Nord region. Each recipient received a diploma, a trophy, and monetary awards of one million 500 thousand, one million, and 750 thousand CFA francs respectively.
In the creativity category, the edition’s prize list revealed that the top three works showcased at the ‘Captain Thomas Sankara’ pavilion were awarded a total of 5 million CFA francs. Additional special prizes were also distributed, including the Thomas Sankara special prize for creativity, valued at 3 million CFA francs. This particular award was given to Adama Sylla for his work on security within the Alliance of Sahel States, which was deemed to reflect the ideals of President Thomas Sankara.
The 2024 edition of SIAO saw participation from over 4,000 exhibitors spanning around thirty countries. The event also attracted 524 journalists, 94 accredited media outlets, and 350,000 visitors from the general public, as reported by the organizers.