Ouagadougou: The "2 Hours for Us, 2 Hours for Kamita" (2HK) movement celebrated Customs and Traditions Day this Thursday at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University with a public ceremony featuring the cultural diversity of the Dagara, Fulani, Sambla, Gourmantche, and Kamite communities. The event showcased local foods, objects, and traditional clothing, with the presence of Adja de Komsilga, a healer, adding significance to the ceremony.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the 2HK movement commemorated this day differently from traditional communities across Burkina Faso, who typically sacrifice animals and chickens to honor ancestral spirits. Instead, 2HK focused on bringing together various communities to promote their cultures and foster mutual understanding.

Lianhoue Imhotep Bayala, the 2HK movement coordinator, highlighted the importance of accepting the diverse ethnic groups in Burkina Faso. "Our culture is rich in its diversity, and we must embrace and defend it," he stated. He criticized the negative perception of ancestral knowledge and practices by some Africans, contrasting it with how similar practices are valorized in other cultures.

Adja de Komsilga, attending the ceremony as a patron, emphasized the day's significance for Burkinabe to reconnect with their roots and explore the lifestyles of their ancestors. She noted how modern practices like using refrigerators for food preservation differ from traditional methods.

During the event, she offered prayers for peace in Burkina Faso and for students pursuing employment and degrees.

Daouda Traore, representing the Sambla community, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to highlight their community's cultural and traditional values, which remain relatively unknown nationally. He suggested that a stronger connection to traditions could alleviate the country's ongoing security crisis. "This May 15th Day is therefore an opportunity to return to ancestral roots," Traore concluded.