Ouagadougou: The 2nd edition of the Festival of traditional instruments and dances of Ouagadougou (FITO), under the theme ‘Cultural diversity and national unity’, will take place from May 24 to 26, 2024.
‘The organization of the Festival of Traditional Instruments and Dances of Ouagadougou (FITO) aims to promote, enhance and safeguard the traditional instruments and dances of Burkina Faso and Africa,’ declared Thursday the President of the organizing committee (PCO), Guy Marc Koussoubé .
He informed journalists that the activity, carried out by the La Source association, intends to present to the general public the traditional musical instruments known and less known from different communities.
‘The music museum will take part in the activity and will exhibit many instruments that most people ignore,’ said Mr. Koussoubé.
For him, the festival will also include performances by dance troupes, an immersion workshop in the making and knowledge of ancient musical instruments and the sale of traditional outfits
.
According to him, the FITO will be held under the patronage of the Minister in charge of Culture, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, and the sponsorship of His Majesty Wogodogo Naaba Boulga and the president of the brotherhood of dozos Without Borders, His Majesty Yacouba Drabo.
The PCO added that the particularity of this edition will be the participation of the Kal-Tamasheq community as guest of honor, given the rich cultural and musical diversity of this community.
‘It has instruments such as the inzad, the tende and the takamba, which resonate with the ancestral history of the Sahara, and remain little known,’ he suggested.
Ibrahim Ag Attahir, from the Kal-Tamasheq community, praised the organizers for their choice as the guest of honor.
He indicated that the Kal-Tamasheq present in Ouagadougou and other cities in Burkina will mobilize for the success of the promotional activity of their culture.
‘However, due to the security crisis, some community troops in the provinces will not be able to take part in th
e event,’ lamented Ibrahim Ag Attahir.
According to the organizers, the forecast budget for FITO 2024 amounts to 28 million CFA francs, and troops will come from Mali, Togo and Niger, if this amount is acquired.
Source: Burkina Information Agency