Text | Jiang Qingxi
Editor|Jiang Qingxi
preface
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in the western part of the African continent, with neighboring countries including Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Its full name is Burkina Faso, which means "country of the upright".
The capital of Burkina Faso is Ouagadougou, which covers an area of about 274,000 square kilometers, making it the third largest country in West Africa. Burkina Faso is known as the "Light of Africa" because of its rich history, diverse cultural heritage, spectacular natural beauty, and arts and performing arts.
So why is this African country called the "light of Africa"?
History and culture
Burkina Faso has a long and diverse history. In ancient times, there were many independent kingdoms and tribal communities in this land. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, the Moses empire, Muslim dynasties, and other kingdoms rose and fell. During the colonial period, Burkina Faso became part of French West Africa, but gained independence in 1960.
Since then, the country has experienced several political and social upheavals, including regime change and democratization processes. Important events include the 1983 revolution, political reforms under Marshall Durbar Vadrago, and subsequent regime changes.
Burkina Faso has a rich and diverse cultural heritage, showcasing diverse expressions such as folklore, music and dance. The country is home to more than 70 different ethnic groups, each of which maintains its own unique traditional culture. Folklore events are an important part of Burkina Faso culture and include harvest celebrations, religious celebrations and weddings.
Burkina Faso is also renowned for its music and dance, especially traditional drumming, taiko and dance performances, as well as the Esway mo Yaamba musical style. These art forms are not only a means of entertainment and performance, but also carry people's history, values and sense of community identity.
Nature
Located in sub-Saharan Africa, Burkina Faso is an arid landlocked country with a relatively poor natural environment. Burkina Faso still has a number of national parks and nature reserves dedicated to the protection and preservation of its limited wildlife resources.
Parc National du "Hônan Niamé": Located in southeastern Burkina Faso, this national park is one of the largest in the country. These include a diverse geography consisting of mountains, forests and savannas, supporting many rare plants and wildlife.
W-Arly-Pendjari Complex: This transnational park straddles the borders of Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger and is an important protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is home to vast Yorumi grasslands and forests inhabited by many rare species such as elephants, lions, and giraffes.
Network of national parks and nature reserves: Burkina Faso is also committed to developing a network of national parks and nature reserves, such as the Parc Naturel de la Boucle du Mouhoun and the Parc National de Léraba-Loumbila, to promote wildlife conservation and sustainable development.
Although Burkina Faso has relatively few natural beauty, these national parks and nature reserves offer opportunities to protect and appreciate the country's limited natural resources.
Arts & Performing Arts
Burkina Faso has a rich variety of traditional festivals that showcase the country's unique cultural and artistic expressions. Here are a few of the festivals worth mentioning:
Fuldani Festival: This is one of the most important traditional festivals in Burkina Faso and is usually held every year in September. The Fuldani Festival celebrates a bountiful harvest and the arrival of the New Year. People dressed in ornate costumes, perform cabaret performances, and perform various traditional competitive activities, such as wrestling and wood chopping competitions.
Mosu Le Bienba: This is a traditional ritual in the southern region of Burkina Faso to teach young people ethics, life skills and social responsibility. The ceremony, which included theatrical performances, musical performances, dancing and singing, showcased the region's rich artistic and cultural heritage.
Burkina Faso also has a unique contribution and influence in the field of film and literature. Here are two of them:
Burkina Faso Film Festival: The FESPACO Film Festival in Burkina Faso is one of the largest film festivals in Africa and the country's most internationally renowned cultural event. The festival aims to promote and showcase African film production, attracting filmmakers and audiences from Africa and around the world. Through film screenings, exchanges and awards, the Burkina Faso Film Festival provides an important platform for African films.
Literary creation: Burkina Faso's literature is also rich in creativity and unique style. Many Burkinesque writers have been recognized nationally and internationally for their work that explores local cultural, historical and social issues. One of the famous Burkinabé writers is Gaston-Paul Effa, whose work covers different fields such as fiction, drama and prose.
Burkina Faso's rich and diverse arts and performing arts, from traditional festivals to film and literature, showcase the country's unique cultural charm and creativity.
Social and economic development
Burkina Faso has been striving to make progress in the areas of education and health, but it also faces some challenges.
The Government of Burkina Faso was committed to raising the level of education for all, including universal primary education and promoting the development of technical and vocational education. The Government has formulated an educational development policy to increase the input of schools and educational resources. However, there are still problems such as insufficient educational resources, lack of teachers, and large regional differences. Children in rural areas and poor families, in particular, face greater challenges.
The Government of Burkina Faso is also committed to promoting access to and improvement of health services and expanding the coverage of health facilities. The Government encourages the establishment of community health centres to provide basic medical services and routine health care. However, the uneven distribution of medical resources, the shortage of medical personnel and the limited financial investment are the main challenges facing the current situation.
The challenges facing Burkina Faso encouraged social innovation and sustainable development practices. Here are a few of them:
In the area of environmental protection, Burkina Faso actively promotes environmental protection and sustainable development. For example, the country is committed to promoting renewable energy, including the use of solar and wind energy, to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. In addition, the government encourages agroecological agriculture and sustainable land management practices in the agricultural sector.
In the context of community development, Burkina Faso focuses on community participation and development. Some community advocates and NGOs carry out community projects at the grass-roots level to promote economic development and social welfare in rural areas. By supporting small businesses, agricultural cooperatives and handicraft production, among others.
Outlook for the future
Burkina Faso faced some challenges in the areas of education and health, but some progress had also been made.
Education: The Government of Burkina Faso is committed to improving the quality and level of education of the people by expanding educational opportunities, improving educational resources and improving teacher training. However, the country still faces many challenges, such as inadequate educational resources, poor school facilities and unequal treatment of girls' education.
On the medical front: Burkina Faso has made some progress in improving basic health care and providing medical services. The government promotes the construction of primary health care facilities and strengthens the training of medical personnel to improve the accessibility and quality of medical services. However, the country's healthcare system still faces problems such as lack of medical resources, outdated medical facilities, and shortage of medical personnel.
Burkina Faso actively promotes sustainable development through social innovation practices in environmental protection and community development.
Environmental protection: Burkina Faso faces environmental challenges such as protecting natural resources and addressing climate change. Government and NGOs are committed to promoting sustainable agriculture, water management and ecological conservation projects to reduce negative environmental impacts and improve the quality of life for communities.
Community development: Burkina Faso attaches importance to community participation and development, improving community development through initiatives such as community infrastructure, economic cooperation and community education. Community collaboration and self-management have become important ways to promote community development, improving the living conditions of residents by strengthening community solidarity and resource sharing.
epilogue
As one of the African countries, Burkina Faso has unique potential and development opportunities. The country is landlocked and rich in natural and agricultural resources, especially gold, manganese, oil and forest resources. Burkina Faso also has a young and hardworking population, which provides great impetus and potential for economic growth and social development.
Burkina Faso has made encouraging development achievements over the past few years. The country has actively promoted economic diversification and improved infrastructure, and has made remarkable progress in agriculture, minerals, energy and tourism. The government is also committed to improving education and medical conditions and raising people's living standards. At the same time, Burkina Faso has participated in regional and international cooperation, actively promoted peace and security and contributed to regional stability and development.
Burkina Faso, as a vibrant and hopeful light of Africa, deserves to be experienced. The country has a unique cultural heritage, beautiful natural landscapes and friendly and welcoming people. Explore Burkina Faso's national parks and admire fascinating wildlife and stunning landscapes; Feel the country's unique music and dance culture; Taste local food and experience local traditions.
In addition, Burkina Faso offers many business opportunities for investors and businesses. The government actively supports foreign investment and offers various conveniences and preferential policies. Whether in agriculture, mining, energy or other sectors, Burkina Faso has great prospects for development.
Burkina Faso is a dynamic and hopeful country with rich potential and opportunities for development. When you travel to Burkina Faso, you will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the unique charm and opportunities that this light of Africa brings.
bibliography
China Investment (Chinese and English),2021,No.532(Z7):90-91.
[2] LI Qingzhe, MA Linxiao, CHEN Dewen, et al. Analysis of mining discovery and investment environment in Burkina Faso[J].Land Resources Information,2017,No.202(10):45-51.)
[3] Shen Jian. World Knowledge,2019,No.1747(08):75.)