Life in Burkina Faso

Violence in Ouagadougo

hrwillis — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:33:43 +0000

Translated Article from l’Observateur Paalga (The New Observer)

In expressing this, the military camp of the Unit, Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, wanted to show their displeasure with the sentence of imprisonment of one of their promotionnaires.Until late in the night (2am at least), the shots with automatic weapons were heard intermittently in several locations in the capital of Burkina Faso.It was difficult to have restful sleep last night in Ouagadougou.

Some of his fellow corps did not like the sentence of imprisonment, broke store ammunition Camp Unity and began firing into the air.According to some sources, he is a soldier who was tried and convicted for violence against a civilian.

Then the army revolt has spread in some parts of the city where gunfire rang late into the night.This situation has disrupted traffic in the vicinity of the military camp.

After that night disorder, many shops were ransacked and looted.

This morning, the Burkinabe capital turns somewhat slowed down and many businesses are closed.

U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou

Warden Message – Security Situation in Ouagadougou

March 23, 2011

The U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou is releasing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens to the uncertain security situation in Ouagadougou. There are many reports of gunfire and looting by soldiers in Centre Ville, Ouaga 2000, and other locations around the city. The Embassy will not open on time due to the uncertain situation…

Bloomberg Article; More detail…

Modern Music of the North

hrwillis — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:02:28 +0000

Artists from the Sahel region in Northern Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, mostly from the Fulani, Hausa, Tourag, and Wadobe ethnicities are incresingly influenced by the development of the American music tradition, and the combination of this largely African-American influence (mostly blues culture) returning to West Africa has created some amazing results when combined with the traditional sounds of the Kora and drum.

The Kora

Combined with guitar, the styling of artists from the 20th century and contemporary music is creating a new genre of Sahel artist. Many of these musicians and groups are enjoying worldwide prominence, and some are even making it to play alongside more famous musicians from the USA and Europe.

Vieux Farka Toure

The following is a preview for a documentary on the culture and music of the Turang and “Bombino” from the perpesctive of the Tourag rebellion:

FESPACO!! 2011

hrwillis — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:05:24 +0000

FESPACO is one of the largest film festivals in the world, and the largest in the continent of Africa. It is held Bi-Annually in Ouagadougou and attracts much attention from the whole of Africa, France and a handful of other nations. The festivities are quite a site, and boast representations of aspects of cultures all across africa, but especially those of West Africa and Burkina Faso.

The prize trophy is a large statue of the Mossi empire’s founding hero, Ouedreogo.

The following is a video from FESPACO 2009 Opening Ceremonies:

FESPACO is yet another reason the Burkinabe pride themselves on being a cultural and artistic center for Africa.

The Harmattan

hrwillis — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:10:45 +0000

The Harmattan is a dusty, dry trade wind that blows sand across the Sahara through nations in west Africa. The dust fill the air, and causes headaches and becomes a general hindrance to the population. The winds can, at times, spur tornadoes, and usually push the desert sand and dust miles out into the ocean.

The Harmattan in Burkina’s capital of Ouagadougou.

Satellite image of the Harmattan’s dust covering Burkina. The dust covers an area roughly that of Virginia.

Burkina Faso: 50 Years of Independence!

hrwillis — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 04:25:30 +0000

Burkina Faso is celebrating it’s 50th year of Independence this week in Bobo-Dioulasso

The following blog has some images and articles concerning the event:

Lefaso.Net

Africa: A size comparison

hrwillis — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:47:38 +0000

I have been waiting for an image that properly demonstrated this.
The sight of a similar map was the first of an infinite number of surprises Africa and Burkina Faso have to offer.
IMG from Creative Commons; Thanks to Carrie.

New, Affordable Meningitis Vaccine Debuts in Africa

hrwillis — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:39:19 +0000

“Burkina Faso is part of what health workers call Africa’s “meningitis belt,” a band of 25 countries stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia. Health workers plan to vaccinate 12 million Burkinabe against the disease by the end of the year.”

Blaise Campaore: Still President

hrwillis — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:21:28 +0000

Blaise Campaore has again one a Presidential election, despite constitutional restrictions and objections from the opposing political parties. His party has clearly stated that they will attempt to lift the restrictions on term limits in the constitution to allow Blaise to run again. All of this comes as little surprise considering the recent political environment in Burkina Faso, and despite objections and some dissent among the people, the Burkinabe masses seem fairly content with the outcome.
It will be interesting to see if Burkina ever produces a significant political rival to Blaise Campaore or if his party will ever allow that to happen.

Businessweek Article

The Faso: Land of Gold and Dust

hrwillis — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 03:03:41 +0000

For thousands of years, Gold has been traded across the vast sands of the Sahel and Sahara to the north of Africa. First on the backs of donkeys, then humped by camels via caravan, gold in the Sahel area combined with salt and other local agricultural and simple trade goods allowed for the rise and fall of many empires in West Africa, most notably those of ancient Mali and Ghana.

The Fulani of northern Burkina and Mali still trade salt mined in large blocks throughout West Africa. As the hundreds (possibly thousands) of sand covered automobile shells will easily attest, in the modern age the camel may still be the most reliable method of traveling across the Sahara. Though rail dominates commercial transportation there are few rail networks, and camels are much more viable option for local traders.

Today, throughout Burkina Faso, international companies continue to eye the store of gold beneath the orange Sahel dust to add to the rise of their own private empires. The region is still host to a number of Gold mines, and though doubtless crude independent enterprises ( as portrayed in the Burkinabe film “Dreams of Dust” ) still exist, most mines are part of the regulated commercial industry. Mining companies are currently vying for the rights to sample and test drill all through the west and partially into other regions of Burkina, and are keen to a handful of other minerals as well. Many of the exports from this production will go to China. The various other minerals are mostly used in the manufacturing and processing of raw materials like steel.

Gold remains a primary export, and a primary employer for the economy of Burkina Faso. Acoording to most estimates, it will likely continue to provide jobs for years to come. The following are a hand full of links and recent articles pertaining to the subject:

Concasseur, A French Mining Franchise (Wonderful images from Burkina production)

High River Gold: Exploration Projects

IAMGOLD Launches Expansion

AVOCET Expectations…

SEMAFO beats previous production

Hi Grade Zone Values for AVION

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

hrwillis — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:21:59 +0000

Recently the peace corps workers and other Americans in the north of Burkina Faso were evacuated from the region due to security concerns caused by AQUIM. In the past few years, several Westerners, among them Christian missionaries, have been kidnapped by the organization, and a few of them have died by their hands.

The following is a link to a detailed backgrounder by CFR on the group, their roots, and the threat they currently pose to the region.

Read it for yourself Here…