Colors of Ouagadougou - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Burkina Faso locals have high respect for traditions of their predecessors. Just like many centuries ago, various crafts are well-developed in the city, so foreign tourists are continuously amazed and attracted by gorgeous souvenirs and handcrafts by local artisans. There are quite many artisan markets in the country where visitors can buy home décor items, items with skillful embroidery, stylish leather accessories, and items made of bronze. Masks remain a very popular souvenir that tourists enjoy buying and taking home. Every ethnic group in the country makes their own unique type of masks.

Mossy make the largest masks, some of which can be up to two meters high. As a rule, these are masks of antelopes skillfully colored in white and red. Bobo make beautiful masks that depict butterflies. These masks are also quite large.

Precious metals mining industry is well-developed in Burkina Faso, and that is definitely one more attractive feature for foreign tourists. During their vacation in the country, visitors can buy not only interesting crafts but also attractive jewelry at a very affordable price. If elite jewelry salons usually offer traditional jewelry pieces, artisan shops often sell truly exclusive items. However, it is important to mention that items sold at artisan shops are, as a rule, made of less fine materials. There are also some categories of materials, the use of which is prohibited in Burkina Faso. These are animal skins, crocodile skin, and ivory. It is possible to buy items made of these materials in special stores only, but tourists need to have a set of documents ready to be able to export these goods to their home country. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The internationally famous FESPACO Film Festival takes place in the country once every two years. This event traditionally attracts many guests from different countries of the world. The honorable event took place in the country for the first time in 1969. Since that time, the festival has been held on the last weekend of February on uneven years. This is the time when Burkina Faso turns into “a Hollywood of Western Africa”. The program of the festival is full of interesting premieres, events, and presentations. Besides that, various artist festivals are very popular in the country. Local musicians, theatre actors, and dancers are always glad to show off their skills. Such events are annual and traditionally attract not only numerous locals but also tourists.

There are many authentic events tightly connected with the heritage of Burkina Faso. Naturally, they are incredibly interesting for tourists who will certainly find much joy in attending these events. The Festima Festival and Bwaba Dancing Masks are among these events. The bwa masks are beautifully decorated wooden masks that have a sacral meaning for local people. Each mask represents some human, animal, or spirit. During this festival, visitors can also see gorgeous “plank masks” that are painted on both sides. Each mask has different color combinations that depend on the mask’s origins. For example, the bwa masks are mostly painted red and black. During the festival, local people dressed in traditional outfits dance, sing, and create interesting performances with masks. This way they ask protection and good harvest from Spirits.

Music fans will be pleased to attend one of the largest jazz festivals in the country – Jazz a Ouaga. This popular jazz festival was launched in 1992. Every year, it offers a well-made schedule and many professional jazz musicians in the lineup. As the event has become more popular over the years, it started attracting more visitors from different parts of the world. Initially, the jazz festival took place in Ouagadougou only, but as the event grew popularity Kedougou and Dioulasso have hosted some concerts as well.