Bougouriba:: The President of the Special Delegation (PDS) of the Gounghin commune, Fran§ois Xavier Lesgo, representing the High Commissioner of Kourittenga, presided over the Waa-pusga festival in Gounghin commune, Kourittenga province, on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Organized by the Nateng-Beog-Nere Association of Gounghin, the ceremony was attended by the provincial directors in charge of Culture and Sports for Kourittenga, as well as His Majesty Naaba Kib-Yaoga of Gounghin.

According to Burkina Information Agency, for 48 hours, the town of Gounghin was abuzz with the sporting and cultural activities of the Waa-pusga festival. These included cultural evenings, an opportunity for exchange with His Majesty the King of Gounghin, a popular cross-country race, and the final of a maracana tournament.

Na-Kom Naaba, one of the notables of His Majesty Naaba Kib-Yaoga of Gounghin, shared that every moonlit night, children gathered to dance and tell stories near a tamarind tree where an old woman made doughnuts to sell, also giving some to the children. "Once the children developed a taste for them," he noted, "they would meet during the day and return to the tamarind tree in the evening, knowing they would see the old woman again and enjoy her doughnuts."

He explained how this gathering eventually involved adults and attracted the interest of all the village inhabitants and those in surrounding areas. This evolution led to the decision by the then-chief to turn it into a festival, named Waa-pusga, which means 'come to the tamarind tree.' The festival now serves to celebrate and strengthen unity, cohesion, and community spirit.

The festival also serves as a platform to strengthen cohesion and community spirit among internally displaced persons in the commune of Gounghin, promoting resilience.

Lookman Badolo, the provincial director of Culture for Kourittenga, praised the commune for organizing the festival, highlighting its significance and potential as a valuable asset for the region. Fran§ois Xavier Lesgo, the PDS of the Gounghin commune, emphasized the festival's importance to the communities and thanked local traditional authorities and youth for their efforts in organizing the annual event.

He also urged the active involvement of the commune's sons and daughters in future editions to ensure the festival becomes a significant cultural asset and a pathway for harmonious development in the Gounghin commune.