Burkina faso: The Burkinabe Copyright Office (BBDA) and the Directorate General of Culture and Arts held a conference on Monday at the Police Academy in Pabr for cultural actors participating in voluntary patriotic immersion, focusing on their rights, obligations, and social responsibilities.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the conference emphasized the law governing the status of the artist, which acknowledges several rights for artists while also outlining obligations, particularly regarding social protection. The Director General of the BBDA, Zita Daniel Bonzi, highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing the social protection of cultural actors.

Bonzi commended the voluntary spirit of the cultural actors involved in the immersion, which included artists, creators, and cultural journalists. He reiterated that the BBDA is responsible for the collective management of copyright and related rights. Bonzi expressed optimism that the immersion would bolster the participants' patriotism and enhance the quality of their work.

Cultural journalist Marie Dossongo, a participant in the initial cohort, described the initiative as "beneficial." She noted that the conference illuminated previously unknown aspects of the law governing artists' status. She highlighted the BBDA's social efforts, such as the mutual aid fund and the elderly members' assistance program (AMAM).

Reflecting on her participation in the patriotic immersion program, Marie Dossongo shared her experiences of personal development, understanding defense and security, and the solidarity fostered among participants. She urged other cultural stakeholders to engage in future cohorts of the program.