Ganzourgou: Naba Sigri, the traditional chief of Kogho, celebrated the Bengdo customary festival on Saturday, January 31, 2026, marking the end of an annual traditional cycle and the time for giving thanks to the ancestors, in an atmosphere of fervor and popular rejoicing.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Bengdo takes place after the harvest and aims to thank the ancestors for their support during the winter season, ensuring the harvest can be consumed in good health. Elders of the royal court highlight the significance of this festival as a way to express gratitude to the ancestors after the harvest season.
Mr. Vonlogo Dieudonne Sawadogo explained that at the start of the rainy season, sacrifices are offered to pray for good rainfall and the health of the people, making it natural to offer thanks after a successful harvest. The Bengdo is the culminating festival among traditional leaders, differing from other festivals as the chief remains in the palace during rites without any pomp, emphasizing gratitude.
The festival follows ceremonies like the "kitoose" and the "kinoodo" and is celebrated between January and March when harvests are stored. It involves community celebrations with traditional dishes like Dolo, inviting friends, and creating a lively atmosphere. Bengdo is likened to Christmas but with a local twist.
Tradition dictates that the chief does not tour the market; instead, a horse race becomes the focus, a much-anticipated event. Historically, the community would clean the track to the palace with drum music, dancing the Kigba. The festival relocates the market to the "Bengdo Market" site for the occasion.
The celebration spans four days, with elders greeting the chief the following day, exchanging food, drink, and blessings for longevity and prosperity. Intergenerational transmission is emphasized, as Mr. Sawadogo noted, 'This is what we have discovered, and this is what we will pass on.'
An appeal is made for Kogho's diaspora to return and experience these traditional festivals, stressing that losing tradition means losing everything.
During the ceremony, Naba Sigri, enthroned on July 21, 2021, expressed wishes for good health, peace, and security for Burkina Faso. The palace was filled with delegations from nearby villages and provinces paying their respects.
The youth contributed with a popular cross-country race and presentations on Kogho's history, ensuring the continuity of tradition through their involvement.