CHI Update: Strengthening Networks to Protect Heritage in Burkina Faso
By Darren P. Ashby | ASOR Cultural Heritage Programs Manager
Heritage protection is most effective and rewarding as a collaborative pursuit. In this spirit, 55 men and women assembled in Burkina Faso’s capital of Ouagadougou on June 21 to discuss the past, present, and future of cultural and religious heritage in the country. Over the course of nine hours, the participants explored the current situation for heritage protection and promotion, what challenges interfered with their work, and where opportunities existed for further cooperation to overcome them through a series of workshops and collaborative events. The attendees represented a wide range of Burkinabé with a wealth of knowledge and experience on the protection and promotion of Burkina Faso’s heritage, including the Director-General of the General-Office of Culture and Arts, the Director-General of the National Museum, the Culture and Tourism Director of the Mayoralty of Ouagadougou, leaders of civil society and professional organizations dedicated to cultural heritage, the representatives of traditional authorities and organized religions, and students and professors from local universities.
Attendees work together to solve a puzzle during the workshop. Photo credit: Jean-Paul Koudougou/ASOR.
The results of a brainstorming session on ways to collaborate on heritage protection. Photo Credit: Jean-Paul Koudougou/ASOR.
Although it has never been easier to speak remotely, the experience of meeting in person still has a special power to excite and inspire. At the end of the day, the attendees expressed their enthusiasm to continue their work together and urged the organization of additional workshops across the country. As Jacob Bamogo, the President of the Passaté Cultural Association put it:
“the meeting was exceptional because it allowed everyone to get to know each other, to talk together and to exchange ideas. It was a really impressive gathering. For me, it was the first time I attended a workshop where everyone was amazed at the end. The participants in this day became like a family at the end. We have kept in touch since then.”
Community representatives share their views on religious and cultural heritage protection in Burkina Faso. Photo credit: Jean-Paul Koudougou/ASOR
The lessons and results of this meeting have a relevance beyond their local context. The conditions and challenges discussed in Burkina Faso are representative of those present across much of the Sahel. In Burkina Faso as in so many other countries, there are many experienced professionals and passionate community members committed to protecting and preserving their heritage. However, limited funding, administrative barriers, unstable security situations, and other challenges make it difficult to build and maintain effective networks of practice dedicated to cultural and religious heritage protection. These types of events create a space for everyone to come together, share their backgrounds and experiences, make new relationships and strengthen old ones, and develop plans and alliances for how to improve conditions for heritage protection across the region.
