Banwa: The bodies of the Banwa province visited some tourist sites on May 8 and 9, 2026, in Kouka and Solenzo. The High Commissioner of the Banwa Province, SanfiEnalE Joseph Sirima, accompanied by the constituted bodies of the province, made a trip to the commune of Kouka, located 45 km from Solenzo, this Friday, May 8, 2026, for a visit to tourist sites on the occasion of the month of cultural heritage.
According to Burkina Information Agency, at the start of their excursion, the delegation paid their respects to the customary authorities before visiting part of the Do house, the place where rites, customs, and traditions take place during initiations. The Do House, built with the help of the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, houses a sacred place located in the heart of the village of Kouka, access to which is strictly reserved for initiates. Visitors were allowed to visit the front of the Do house, the interior being reserved only for initiates.
Afterwards, the delegation visited the site of a blast furnace that was once used for ancient metallurgy. According to cultural guide Kouintani Sanou, from the Provincial Directorate of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism of Banwa, this blast furnace dates back to the creation of the village of Kouka in 1878. According to his explanation, the blacksmiths extracted iron from the ground in the form of stones, which they placed in blast furnaces before lighting them. The stones melted and became a liquid, which was then poured into clay molds drawn on the ground in the shape of spears, hoes, knives, or any other tool to be made.
On the way back, the day's visitors also made a stop at the ruins of another blast furnace in the village of B¨na, located 15 km from Solenzo. Iron residues can still be found on this site. Cultural guide Kouintani Sanou suggested that modernization led to the abandonment of the blast furnaces, as the work had become very arduous.
On Saturday, May 9, the constituted bodies also visited the Solenzo forge. The history of ancient metallurgy, the current work of blacksmiths, and the use of iron were explained to visitors. The Solenzo well, discovered in the 13th century, was also presented to the constituted bodies. According to HervE Coulibaly, a customary resident of Solenzo, this well was not dug, but discovered by the founder of Solenzo, Losso Coulibaly. "With the arrival of the settler, the second well, whose rim soil was used to treat goiters, was closed. The settler moved the blacksmiths who lived around it before establishing the Catholic mission on the site," HervE Coulibaly explained. According to the notables of Solenzo, the first well is a sacred well where rituals take place during initiations. In this well, capturing images is strictly prohibited.