Ouagadougou:The Ministry of Culture in Burkina Faso has initiated a project to compile a collection of 40 local dishes aimed at preserving the country's national culinary heritage and promoting gastronomic tourism. The workshop to validate this collection was opened by Monique Oudraogo/Ilboudou, the Director General of Tourism, standing in for the Secretary General of the Ministry, Dr. Moctar Sanfo.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the workshop highlighted the significance of gastronomy as a vital component of Burkina Faso's cultural heritage, reflecting the history, traditions, and social values of its communities. The workshop underscored the importance of documenting traditional dishes, such as kazanga, zamn, babenda, tô, and local drinks like dolo and zoom-koom, to preserve their legacy for future generations.

Participants in the workshop were tasked with ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the recorded culinary information, focusing on the names, origins, ingredients, and preparation techniques of the dishes. The project is based on extensive data collection from communities and culinary experts, aiming to document the diverse gastronomic practices without standardization, reflecting their historical and cultural dimensions.

The initiative was described as a significant step towards safeguarding collective memory and recognizing community knowledge. The collection is expected to enhance gastronomic tourism by diversifying the national tourism offering, promoting local products, and creating economic opportunities within the value chain. Monique Oudraogo/Ilboudou expressed gratitude to all contributors to the project and emphasized the importance of achieving a satisfactory validation of the document.