Awareness-raising theater and a radio program are the flagship activities of the Boucle du Mouhoun regional community day. Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms are highlighted. The Solidar Suisse consortium and SOS Sahel International Burkina Faso, promoters of the RESICOM community resilience project, aim to promote social cohesion. The theatrical performance took place at Melon gare, and the broadcast at Radio Salaki in Dédougou, on November 17 and 18, 2023 respectively.
Melon gare drew a big crowd on Friday evening. And with good reason. The Farafina Yélé troupe presented an awareness-raising play on good neighborliness, “Sigui Gnongon Gassi”, in the national language Dioula. What is seen as a conflict between two families over the use of land and natural resources is in fact a chieftaincy dispute in disguise. The two opposing families are, on the one hand, that of Dougoumassa and the chief, considered to be indigenous and one of whose sons is special advisor to the President of the Republic. On the other is the Kélétigui family. One of the sons of this family, considered foreign, is Minister of Justice. On stage, like the sacred bonds of marriage, the tug-of-war shatters the human relationships built up between the two families over the years.
The performance plunges us into the world of tradition. It has the merit of showing the request for forgiveness before the council of elders. Each family acknowledges its wrongdoing to the other. The sound of a flute accompanies the well-mastered acting for much of the play. The staging bears the hallmark of Hadou IMIEN.
The interactive show
November 18 at 10 a.m. Radio Salaki’s host announces his guests. The interactive program focuses on the theme of the2nd edition of the Regional Day of Communities: “What strategies for valorizing local mechanisms and knowledge in the promotion of peace and social cohesion?What strategies for valorizing local mechanisms and knowledge in the promotion of peace and social cohesion?”. Guests included Dapoba DIARRA Regional Director in charge of human rights, Karim TRAORE President of the Balmaya Communities Association, Laurentin PODA Secretary General of the Association des ressortissants du sud-ouest and Joseph NOBA facilitator of community dialogue frameworks. The program focused on the work of the Boucle du Mouhoun community dialogue frameworks organized on November 12, 2023. The guests presented the best practices used by communities to resolve conflicts, the strategies used to strengthen community life and the recommendations made.
