Ouagadougou: Former students pay tribute to their primary school principal, Gaoussou Traor About twenty former students of the Brba Public Primary School (EPP) paid tribute on Saturday, September 5, 2026, to their former director, Gaoussou Traor, at his home in Bobo-Dioulasso, in order to show him their gratitude for his contribution to their education and training.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Gaoussou Traor arrived in Brba in 1984 as the headmaster of the primary school and served there for ten years. Several decades after his departure, his former students, gathered within the group "The former students of the Brba primary school at Traor Gaoussou", chose to reconnect with their former teacher.

The meeting was marked by testimonials and reminiscences from their school days. Among the most vivid memories is that of "the black man," a nickname given to the whip used at the time to discipline students. Looking back, the former students say they better appreciate the educational impact of their former headmaster's actions and the influence he had on their lives.

During the ceremony, the former students presented their former primary school headmaster, who was accompanied by his wife and the representative of the village chief of Brba, with a baobab-shaped trophy engraved with his name and a message of gratitude. They also gave him Faso Danfani outfits and a cash gift. The choice of the baobab tree was symbolic, representing, according to the organizers, the deep roots and enduring legacy of the educational work accomplished by their former teacher.

Gaoussou Traor, now 77 years old and the current canton chief of Taguara-Sifarasso, expressed his emotion at the gesture of his former students. "If you manage to find me today to come and say hello, it's immense. I wouldn't be able to thank you enough," he declared, before wishing each of his former students to reach his age.

According to Louis Bazi, spokesperson for the initiators, this initiative aims to convey a message. "Through this initiative, we also want to send a message to today's youth about the importance of respect and trust between students and teachers. Teachers are not limited to their pedagogical mission; they also play a major role in the education and training of citizens," he stated.