Bobo-dioulasso: More than a week after the official closing of the National Culture Week (SNC) Bobo 2026, exhibitors continue to occupy the surroundings of the fair site, transforming the area into an open-air market where customers and traders mingle in a still lively atmosphere.

According to Burkina Information Agency, on Friday, May 1, 2026, Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo officially announced the closing of the cultural biennial. However, on Sunday, May 10, several exhibitors remained set up in front of the venue that had hosted the trade fair. On site, clothing, shoes, bags, and various items continue to attract many visitors. Some exhibitors say they want to sell their goods, while customers take advantage of prices considered affordable.

For Barkissa Soro, an exhibitor in Bobo-Dioulasso, this extension remains beneficial. "A week later, I'm selling because people like what we offer. It's going well. God bless the SNC," she confided. Alidou Zongo, who came from Ouagadougou, made the same observation. According to him, sales within the site were not satisfactory. "I didn't have a good market inside. I had to sell outside to get transport," he explained.

Saint Junior Bado, also an exhibitor in Bobo-Dioulasso, says that the influx of visitors has encouraged several traders to stay. "People wanted us to continue given the large crowds after the SNC closed," he said. The same is true for Ousseni Tassembedo, who also arrived from Ouagadougou, and who says he was unable to sell his goods during the SNC. "I'm taking advantage of this to sell a little," he explained.

Customers also welcomed the extension. Estelle Zongo said she hadn't been able to access the site during the SNC. "Today, I was able to buy what I wanted at a very affordable price," she said. For Ibrahim Diarra, a customer from Belgium, the duration of the SNC remains insufficient in view of the observed enthusiasm. "We want this to continue beyond a week because the SNC is interesting. People need to take advantage of it further," he argued.

Reached by phone, the general manager of the SNC, Christiane Sanon, clarified that the exhibitors "do not have authorization to exhibit outside". She indicated that they had been granted "a week's grace period" until then and that the security services had asked them to vacate the premises after the allotted time. However, Ms. Sanon expressed her wish that exhibitors "get in touch with the central town hall," which would have a space that could accommodate them temporarily.