Meguet: Vinnogo sets the tone for the promotion of African languages. In Vinnogo, in the commune of Meguet, African languages were honored on Wednesday during the official launch of the African Languages Week (SLA) and the International Mother Language Day (JILM), in the presence of administrative authorities, educational actors, and the population.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony took place under the chairmanship of Celine Bazemo, president of the special delegation of the commune of Meguet, alongside the Head of the Basic Education District (CCEB) Nongaouaogre Koalaga, surrounded by educational supervisors, school officials, teachers, students, and parents. A highlight of the ceremony was the performance of the national anthem in the Moore language, around the flagpole of the establishment, which set the tone for a firm commitment to the promotion of national languages.
In her speech, Celine Bazemo relayed the message of the Minister in charge of Education, stressing the importance of mother tongues in the construction of identity, social cohesion, and development. Speaking at the event, the Head of the CEB, Nongaouaogre Koalaga, presented the planned activities in the district's schools and called for increased mobilization of directors, teachers, parents, and students around the promotion of local languages.
He stressed that this commemoration, themed "Sustainable Waters, Shared Voices," provides a framework for reflection on the role of African languages, proverbs, oral traditions, and cultural narratives in water conservation and the promotion of responsible sanitation behaviors. The CCEB also emphasized the importance of beginning this promotion in childhood, both at school and at home, to ensure the transmission of mother tongues. It reiterated that these languages represent a crucial driver of development for Burkina Faso.
Deploring the gradual loss of local languages in some families, where members can no longer express themselves in their native language, he described this situation as alarming and called for collective awareness to preserve this cultural heritage. He also made the link with the national dynamic of promoting local consumption, mentioned during the Day of Patriotic Commitment and Citizen Participation, believing that the promotion of national languages is part of this same logic.
The director of the Vinnogo school, Ouedraogo Jean Mathias, welcomed the choice of his establishment to host the event and announced the continuation of educational and cultural activities during the day. The ceremony concluded with a tasting of local dishes, while activities will continue in schools until May 9, 2026.