Mouhoun: The city of Dedougou will experience a special atmosphere from Thursday, January 29, until February 10, 2026, with the traditional procession of the leaf masks, an emblematic cultural event that marks the city's ritual calendar each year. For about ten days, the masks from the different neighborhoods will travel through the city to perform their rites, carrying messages of blessings, protection, and social cohesion.

According to Burkina Information Agency, for this first day, the leaf masks, as usual, observed a symbolic stop at the canton chief of Dedougou, where they paid their respects in an atmosphere of solemnity and respect for customs and traditions. On this occasion, blessings were offered for peace, security, and social cohesion in Burkina Faso, in a national context marked by the permanent quest for stability and living together.

For the Chief of the canton of Dedougou, this appearance of the masks is a new year according to traditions and it is an event to purify the whole city, to purify the community, whether it is a question of health, prosperity, well-being through the mask which is the "Do." "In the Bwa tradition, the Do is the divinatory spirit, the messenger of God, hence its name Do," he explained, while praying to the Do that this year, all those involved in destabilizing matters will be discovered. "May the spirit of this Do bring to light all the organized maneuvers against the country so that peace may return."

Through the release of these masks, the Chief prayed that this Do can truly intercede with the Almighty so that by next year Burkina Faso will no longer speak of terrorism, of betrayal, but of peace, prosperity, cohesion, and mobilization around authorities. "May God bless our country with very good rainfall this year, so that we can work and eat our fill and that the development of this country becomes a reality," he added.

After this customary step, the masks began a procession through the city to greet certain administrative and technical authorities. To this end, the Dedougou Town Hall, the High Commission, the Regional Directorate of the Environment, and the Governorate received the visit of the masks, in an atmosphere marked by popular fervor and support from the people.

Asked about the traditional appearance of the leaf masks in Dedougou, the customary official in charge of the masks, Domboueza Laurent Konde, stressed that after the rainy season and after the harvests, it is a new year and the event is celebrated by the appearance of the masks, just as the fiber masks are brought out to invoke the rain. "The role of the mask in Bwa society is to ask for health and prosperity for the population. It is a new year with new harvests, we take advantage of it for the best, not for the worst, which is why we bring out the masks to celebrate the event," explained the customary leader. He wished a happy new year to all the people of the city of Dedougou. "May this year 2026 be first and foremost a year of peace. We need peace, a year of joy and less sorrow," he said as his wishes.

For about ten days, the different districts of the city of Dedougou will bring out their masks for purification rituals for peace, prosperity, and cohesion of the daughters and sons of the city and therefore of the whole country. Through this ritual tour, the leaf masks reaffirm their role as vectors of transmission of cultural values, social mediation, and strengthening of links between traditional authorities, administrative, and local communities. A centuries-old tradition that continues to consolidate the cultural identity of Dedougou and promote peace as the foundation of harmonious development.