Ouagadougou: The 24th edition of the Kunde, a prestigious cultural event celebrating the finest Burkinabe artists, is set to take place on May 8, 2026, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A significant innovation this year is the introduction of the "Before Kunde," an event scheduled for May 7 at the Lancaster Hotel in Ouaga 2000. This announcement was made by the organizers during a press conference.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the "Before Kunde" aims to enhance the cultural experience by offering artist recognition, creative performances, surprises, a cocktail reception, and a networking session. The Kunde's general commissioner, Salfo Sore, popularly known as Jah Press, outlined these features as part of the new addition to the Kunde event lineup.
Jah Press also detailed the main features of the Kunde event, which will take place on May 8 at the Ouaga 2000 banquet hall. The program will include a red carpet event, a dinner, a fashion show, artist performances, and the presentation of the Kunde trophies. The awards will comprise 10 main prizes and 5 special prizes, along with the prestigious Kunde of Honor and the Kunde of Tribute.
In his address, Jah Press expressed gratitude to the media and the technical and financial partners who have supported the Kunde for 25 years. He acknowledged the annual consistency of the awards and thanked God for this achievement. Furthermore, he commended Burkina Faso's armed forces for their sacrifices in maintaining the country's stability, which allows for the continuation of cultural events.
Boureima Guiga, a committee member and retired journalist, explained the process of selecting the musical works for the awards. The evaluation period spanned from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, involving communication and culture professionals. Public voting will account for 25% of the decision for the Kunde d'or award.
The 2026 edition promises to feature a diverse lineup of artists, including local talents like Imilo le Chanceux, Melkior, Young Ced, and international stars such as Awilo Longomba from DR Congo, Eric Virgal from Martinique, and Black M from Guinea. Three finalists are competing for the Kunde d'or 2026: Privat, Reman, and Tanya.
For this edition, a total of 1,331 musical works were recorded, including 175 by female artists, marking an increase of 723 works compared to the previous year.