The Minister of Urban Planning, Land Affairs and Housing, Mikaïlou Sidibé, chaired the 16th edition of the International Festival of Masks and Arts (FESTIMA) on Thursday April 18, 2024 in Dédougou . , under the theme: 'Masks, culture and resilience'.For a week, festival-goers will attend performances of masks made of fibers, sheets and fabrics from mask companies in Boucle du Mouhoun and other regions of Burkina Faso.Placed under the theme 'Mask, Culture and Resilience', the 16th edition of the International Festival of Masks and Arts (FESTMA) of Dédougou where the edition of resilience is in full swing through the traditional expressions of the mask.The town of Dédougou is particularly lively, through the varied cultural riches of the different mask companies invited.Welcoming festival-goers, the Prefect, President of the special municipal delegation of Dédougou, Mr. Dieudonné Tougfo, expressed his gratitude to the organizing committee for holding the edition of FESTIMA which not only contributes to the promotion of the mask but also contributes to giving a festive atmosphere to the town of Dédougou.To do this, he invited the population to provide hospitality for all festival-goers.In the opinion of the Executive Secretary of the Association for the Protection of the Mask (ASAMA), Léonce Ki, organizing structure of FESTIMA, the festivities of this 16th edition promise to be a vibrant tribute to the cultural heritage and the capacity of communities to overcome challenges.'The holding of this festival is to the credit of the populations of Dédougou, host city of the festival, to whom he did not fail to express his gratitude,' he indicated.According to Léonce Ki, during a week of rich activities, art, tradition and resilience come together to celebrate diversity and human creativity through the values we know from the mask.He expressed his gratitude to all the actors who worked and enabled this edition to take place despite the difficult security context in the Boucle du Mouhoun region.Minister Mikaïlou Sidibé praised the tenacity and resilience of ASAMA and those of the populations who, despite the difficult context facing the country, wanted to hold the torch of the festival high by organizing this edition.He also praised the efforts made by FESTIMA in preserving this heritage which is today the pride of all.Underlining the importance of the return of the festival, Minister Sidibé insisted that terrorism must not deprive us of our cultural identity.The program for this edition of FESTIMA resilience includes an exhibition fair, a community market and a conference.Source: Burkina Information Agency