The customary notabilities of Dédougou commemorated Wednesday, May 15, 2024, the day of traditions and customs, in the presence of regional authorities.Burkina Faso is celebrating this May 15, 2024, the first Day of Customs and Traditions (JCT) established by the government to promote the secularism of the State. In the Boucle du Mouhoun, Dédougou did not remain on the sidelines.The guarantors of customs, around the head of Canton, Albert Lombo Dayo, joined in the dance.A ceremony punctuated by rites, performances by traditional troops and masks.The head of the Canton of Dédougou welcomed the government's initiative in having established this day.He announced the holding of several activities and rituals to mark this event in the days to come.The spokesperson for customary chiefs, Sanou Dembelé, expressed his gratitude to the authorities of the region who came to honor customary chiefdom and traditions.Returning to history, he recalled that Dédougou (Bankuy) was founded in the 1400s by Koé Dayo, who served as land chief until 1459.Several land chiefs succeeded one another until the arrival of the settler towards the end of the 1800s who brought about a change.For management, he explained, the settler set up the canton which then brought together several villages.Since its creation, he added, 12 chiefs have reigned over the land of Dédougou.The governor of the region, Babo Pierre Bassinga, expressed his pride in coming to wish the traditional notables a happy holiday.'Alongside the work done on the front by our fighting forces, invisible work is done by traditional authorities to preserve the territory. They have always been by our side whenever needed. Thank you for the prayers and blessings for the Boucle du Mouhoun,' he said.And to recall that many things have been done by the transitional authorities, in particular the month of heritage and that of patriotic commitment which, moreover, are closely linked to traditions.'Our traditions are crumbling day by day due to the influence of e xternal culture. Our children will have nothing to learn from our values. It is in the face of this danger that the country's authorities initiated this day,' he explained.Source: Burkina Information Agency