Mirriam Ogunja：BRINGING EDUCATION AND INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE CLOSER IN BURKINA FASO-电子科技大学西非研究中心

LINK：https://m.huanqiu.com/article/4G25MtTJZCz

REPUBLIC OF BURKINA FASO

Burkina Faso, commonly translated as “the land of honest men,” or simply put “incorruptible people” is a landlocked country in West Africa bordered to the north and northwest by Mali, northeast and north by Niger, southeast by the Benin Republic, and the south by Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo, respectively. It is among the world’s poorest countries according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Index, ranked at 184 out of 189 countries in 2022. Burkina Faso is linguistically diverse with French being the official spoken language. Additionally, approximately 70 languages are spoken across the 60 different ethnic groups, the most common being Moore (Mossi) and Dyula. It forms part of the G5 Sahel countries which include; Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad.

The country’s population is estimated at 22,100,683 inhabitants as of 2023, located in a land area of 274,220 km2. Ouagadougou is the capital city of Burkina Faso, which lies approximately 500 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and is situated in the country’s center. Majority of the population are Muslims at 63.2% followed by Roman Catholics at 24.6%, Traditional/animist at 4.2% and finally protestants at 6.9%. The country has a history of political stability and peaceful democratic transitions, setting it apart from some of its neighboring countries in the region. The country is FISU member since 1983 and it’s also home to majestic national parks and captivating wildlife. These protected areas provide sanctuary for a diverse range of wildlife species, including elephants, lions, hippos, and many bird species.

BURKINA FASO’s ECONOMIC OUTLOOK (2023)

After a sharp decline in economic growth in 2022 to 1.5%, caused by a combination of new shocks both domestic (coups d’Etat, insecurity in mining areas) and external (invasion of Ukraine), a clear economic rebound in 2023 is projected at 4.3% (or 1.7% per capita). With public spending remaining high (defense equipment, humanitarian challenges linked to the crisis of internally displaced populations - IDPs - subsidies and other social transfers), the budget deficit for 2023 is expected to rise to 6.7% of GDP. Its financing should continue to rely essentially (at 83%, or 3.8% of GDP) on domestic borrowing, given the more limited availability of direct budgetary support since the 2022 coup d’Etat.

Eighty percent of the country’s 22 million people are engaged in small-scale, rain-fed subsistence farming. The mining sector employs approximately about 51,000 both direct and indirect employees. Some mining sector experts project the mining sector employment to surpass that of agriculture in the long term, the sector that historically has employed the most Burkinabe people. Cotton is Burkina Faso’s main agricultural export and generated the country US$ 233 million in export revenue, accounting for 6% of its export earnings in 2020 and 2021. Burkina Faso remains to be the third largest producer of cotton in Africa, producing 518,545 tons in the 2021-2022 harvest. However, during the 2017/2018 campaigns, the country saw its cotton production fall drastically. The top spot is now being held by Mali which managed to surpass Burkina Faso to become the biggest cotton producer in West Africa.

In 2021, Burkina’s two largest trading partners were Switzerland at (39.1% of Burkina’s bilateral trade) and China at (6.1%).

BURKINA FASO’s EDUCATION OUTLOOK (2023)

Burkina Faso envisions a democratic, performing and inclusive education system, which is open to the world and develops the competences and expertise that meet the needs of the socioeconomic development of Burkina Faso. Education is a priority with efforts to improve access to quality education for all children. The country has also made significant strides in the recent past in promoting gender equality with women holding key positions in Government, Education and Business.

However, over a million children in Burkina Faso are currently affected by school closures with 6,134 academic institutions shut as of September 2023, an increase in over 40% since end of last school year following a sharp rise in fighting between militants and the government. This has seen a large number of children out of school which puts the future of Burkina Faso’s next generation at risk. The crisis has largely impacted girls who are more likely to be victims of child labor, sexual abuse and exploitation, gender-based violence and early marriages.

School going children reading their first bibles together as part of storytelling culture in Burkina Faso

Source: CI

School children in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, wait before classes start

Source: Olympia de Maismont

Small girl walks her three goats while carrying her little brother on the back

Source: CI

SPORTS, CULTURAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION

In Burkina Faso, the department of Sports, Cultural and Leisure Activities in Education (DASCLÉ) is responsible for the development of sports, cultural and leisure activities in the education sector. It’s aimed at promoting the following;

▪ Elaborate, propose and implement strategies for the development of sports, cultural and leisure activities in schools and in the education sector;

▪ Organize sporting, cultural and leisure activities in education, in collaboration with education stakeholders;

▪ Promote the practice of sports, culture and leisure activities in schools and in the central and decentralized services of the ministry;

▪ Organize and supervise inter-school competitions in sports, culture and leisure

▪ Monitor and promote athletes and artists in schools in collaboration with the ministries

▪ Contribute to the enhancement of the Burkina Faso cultural identity in educational sector

▪ Contribute to the reinforcement of the leadership capacities of the actors of the educational system related to sport, culture and leisure.

BURKINA FASO’S RICH INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

The rich intangible cultural history of the Burkinabe people continues to shape the mindset of the younger people and it is passed on from one generation to the other. Traditional music, sports, dance and storytelling play a crucial role in Burkina Faso's cultural heritage, with vibrant rhythms, traditional instruments like the balafon, and energetic dance performances being prominent and which revive a sense of hope. The Mossi people have a rich oral tradition with storytelling to children playing a significant role in passing down cultural values and history. Either, the Gourmantché people are known for their unique and intricate hairstyles, which are often adorned with beads and cowrie shells. Common sports include; football, handball, basketball, cycling, volleyball, throw ball and traditional wrestling.

Traditional wrestling is a popular sport with competitions held in schools, communities and villages every year. Fundamentally, women and girls play a key role in the country’s economy particularly in the shea butter industry where they are involved in the production and processing of shea nuts a practice that is common with the neighboring Mali. Faso dan fani, is a colorful and vibrant fabric which is used to make traditional clothing and accessories. These fabrics are often adorned with lovely intricate patterns and designs.

Young learners acquire life skills and gain education to help them thrive in future

Source: CI

CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND SPORTS INTEGRATION IN OUAGADOUGOU

Built by Albert Faus in capital Ouagadougou in 2012, the center is one of its kind and the newest neighborhoods of the capital that has emerged to absorb strong demographic growth as well as the migration currently taking place from the countryside to the capital city. The center which has a literacy program for street children and the sports school incorporates both school and sports activities together thus channeling youth energy into positive pursuits to combat societal challenges. The center received an award as the highlighted project in the 1st Catalan International Architecture Exhibit organized by the Catalonian Association of Architects.

Boys play soccer at the center (Source: CI)

CONCLUSION

Education is both a fundamental human right in itself and the key to quality life. Education and culture are closely inter-linked and the two go hand in hand. This is to say that education provides a friendly environment conducive for cultural diversity to thrive and makes it possible to exercise the right to participate in cultural events. In addition, it harnesses the power of culture for education, in both formal and non-formal settings, which widens the perspective of development. This increasingly broadens people’s knowledge and choices beyond the economic perspective, encompassing the social, cultural and spiritual dimensions of their existence, thereby sustaining alternative models of development. Furthermore, culture determines the way knowledge is embodied, experienced and applied in day to day lives of young learners both at school and at home. Incorporating culture and education together paves the way for a new era of youth engagement emphasizing character building, competitiveness, and resilience for life success.

To conclude, in today’s world where education for sustainable development is a global priority, promoting the integration of culture and education in Burkina Faso’s school curriculum for school going children holds a great potential for the country’s future sustainable development. With its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and a resilient young population which is typical of the African continent, Burkina Faso is a hidden gem yet to be fully explored.