GAOUA – The South-West region of Burkina Faso has appointed 41 individuals from various cultural disciplines to represent it at the upcoming 21st National Culture Week (SNC Bobo 2024) in Bobo-Dioulasso. The selection followed a regional culture event that showcased the area’s rich artistic and sporting talents.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the South-West Regional Culture Week (SRC), held from November 19 to 21, 2023, in Gaoua’s multipurpose room, served as a platform for selecting these representatives. The 41 winners, hailing from the four provinces of the region — La Bougouriba, Ioba, Noumbiel, and Poni — were chosen from a pool of 528 artistic and sporting groups initially registered. They specialize in various disciplines, including traditional dance, song, wrestling, ballet, slam, culinary art, and archery.
The SNC Bobo 2024, scheduled to take place from April 27 to May 4, 2024, will focus on the theme “Culture, historical memory and patriotic surge for a new Burkina.” The governor of the South-West region, Boureima Savadogo, who is also the president of the SRC organizing committee, expressed satisfaction with the event’s organization and the enthusiasm shown by the local populations. He acknowledged the resilience of the cultural actors who mobilized for the occasion despite the challenging security context.
Governor Savadogo congratulated the winners and encouraged them to prepare diligently to represent the region honorably at the SNC Bobo 2024. He emphasized that the jury provided valuable advice to the winners, urging them to start refining their performances in anticipation of the national event.
Additionally, Savadogo appealed to the community to support the selected artists, stressing the importance of unity and encouragement in elevating the region’s cultural standing. The juries, after announcing the results, advised the artists to research their creations thoroughly and utilize national symbols effectively and meaningfully on stage.
Lanssa Moïse Kohoun, the secretary-general of the SNC, urged the winners from the South-West to familiarize themselves with the regulations of the grand prix des arts et des lettres (GPNAL). He stated that efforts would be made to popularize the regulations and raise awareness among troop supervisors to ensure adherence to the guidelines.
Among the selected ambassadors, Coulibaly Abdoul Karim, head of the Cultural Association for the Development of Young People of Bougouriba and qualified in the youth ballet pool, expressed confidence in their preparedness for the final phase of SNC 2023. He shared that the work would begin immediately to ensure a strong representation of the region at the national cultural event.