Ouagadougou: The 22nd edition of the National Culture Week (SNC) underscored an increasing interest from partners in advancing the arts, as illustrated by the distribution of 59 special prizes worth over 44 million CFA francs. The awards ceremony was presided over by Dr. Ousmane Bougouma, President of the People's Legislative Assembly.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the awards this year saw a significant increase from the 2024 edition, which featured 45 awards totaling 29.7 million FCFA. This rise in prizes reflects a strengthened commitment from both institutional and private stakeholders to support the cultural sector.

The awards covered various disciplines, including performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, traditional sports, and literature, with prize amounts ranging from 500,000 to 2 million FCFA. The Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo, highlighted this development as a sign of the cultural sector's vitality and the increased confidence of partners.

The minister urged partners to intensify their support, emphasizing culture as a crucial lever for social cohesion and economic development. He stressed that culture should be recognized as a sector capable of providing jobs and wealth, and called for greater mobilization of public and private actors to enhance the sector's economic impact.

Mamounata Niki¨ma, from the Nazinon region, won the FAO special prize in culinary arts for her dish, "Gnonkon," which featured beans, leaves, peanut powder, garlic, and parsley. She expressed her satisfaction with the award, seeing it as motivation to further hone her culinary skills.

In the Slam poetry category, Jacques Lompo received the first special prize from the People's Legislative Assembly, valued at one million CFA francs. A participant in the SNC since 2016, Lompo's work was recognized for its denunciation of terrorism and its tribute to efforts made to reclaim the territory.