Ouagadougou: The Minister in charge of Culture, Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo, officially presented checks to the winners of the architectural competition for the rehabilitation of the Desire Bonogo People's Theatre and its surroundings. The ceremony took place on Tuesday in Ouagadougou.
According to Burkina Information Agency, architect Ibrahim Fran§ois Pare won the first prize with his project "Au clair de la lune" (By the Light of the Moon), earning a check for 2,500,000 CFA francs. His design features exhibition halls, administrative spaces, renovated housing, studios, and other modern facilities. Pare's project seeks to connect cultural heritage with the future.
The second prize, worth 1,500,000 CFA francs, was awarded to Franck Fabien Thiombiano for his project "Le theStre prend son envol" (The Theater Takes Flight). The third prize went to Pare Jonathan Laopan Albert for "Le D´ urbain" (The Urban Do), receiving 500,000 CFA francs. The Faso Mebo Agency, in collaboration with the Prime Minister's Office, led this initiative.
According to the Agency's representative, Captain Nagalo, the theater's rehabilitation aims to revitalize a significant cultural landmark. "It's not simply about restoring an amphitheater, but about reimagining a popular cultural space, open to theater, poetry, drawing, and dance," he stated.
The projects were evaluated based on several criteria, including compliance with the architectural program, functionality, material choice, construction techniques and costs, environmental impact and sustainability, as well as graphic quality and architectural rendering.
Minister Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo praised the award winners' creativity, emphasizing that the initiative transcends mere infrastructure renovation. "We are not simply engaged in the rehabilitation of a building, but in the restoration of an unfinished dream," he declared. The minister highlighted the theater's mission to offer artists a dignified, accessible, and unconstrained platform for expression, promoting national cultural creation.