Ouagadougou: The pan-African initiative Africa Mousso will celebrate, from October 20 to 23, 2026 in Ouagadougou, its ten years of commitment to strong women, around issues related to peace, social cohesion and women's development, announced its founding president, Sandrine Folan/Oudraogo, on Thursday.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the celebration will be marked by several activities, including an official launch ceremony, a forum at Cin Burkina, an exhibition from October 20 to 22, and an awards and gala evening on October 23 at the Banquet Hall of Ouaga 2000. The forum will bring together women and men around several themes related to peace, social cohesion, and women's development. Training will also be organized for at least one hundred young girls in various fields, including dyeing, decoration, and straw weaving.
'Africa Mousso is dedicated to women in the informal sector,' said Sandrine Folan/Oudraogo, citing in particular hairdressers, vegetable and juice processors, traders, and other women who work diligently every day. The initiative, launched in 2016, aims to highlight women who, according to the promoter, often remain in the shadows despite contributing significantly to society and the national economy.
For this tenth edition, Mali, Niger, and Guinea are announced as guest countries of honor. Women from these countries will participate in the forum and the gala evening. A donation will also be made at the end of the event to benefit the widows of fallen Defense and Security Forces.
The evening of October 23 will be dedicated to recognizing several women in different categories, including the Woman Impact Award, the African Integration and Women's Resilience Award, the AES Woman Award, the Maman Africa Courage Award, and the Inspiring Refugee Woman Award. Prizes will also be awarded in the fields of health, education, and rural development. The grand prize, called the "Sanem Paaga Prize," will be worth 1.5 million FCFA, while a second prize of 500,000 FCFA will be awarded based on public vote and the candidates' visibility on social media.
Since 2016, Africa Mousso claims to have honored more than 300 women in several categories and in different locations, including Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, and Koudougou. Thanks to the support of its partners, the initiative says it has mobilized over 17 million FCFA for women and trained more than 1,000 beneficiaries since its inception. It also claims to have reached over two million women through its networks.
"Ten years is not ten days. For me, ten years is a blessing," said the promoter, recalling the difficulties encountered along the way. "At the third edition, I almost gave up, but my love for this cause pushed me to continue," she confided. The promoter also called on partners to provide more support for initiatives aimed at women in the informal sector, promising that video testimonials from women who have benefited from donations and support will be shown during the celebration of Africa Mousso's tenth anniversary.