African diaspora discusses colonization and its legacies in Burkina Faso
via Lefaso.net6 min read
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, hosted the inaugural conference on "Colonization and the perpetuation of colonial systems" on April 20, 2026. Organized by the African Diaspora Development Institute ADDI, the event aimed to re-evaluate the connections between Africa and its diaspora, with a focus on youth in the continent's transformation. Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao, president of ADDI, emphasized celebrating Burkinabe youth and providing them a platform to share their history. She also called for intergenerational synergy, stating that division hinders success and that elders should transmit knowledge to the youth for collective progress. The Minister Delegate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stella Eldine Kabré/Kaboré, representing President Ibrahim Traoré and Prime Minister Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, commended the initiative. She highlighted its importance in reshaping political, strategic, and historical ties between Africa and its diaspora, especially amidst the continent's political redefinition, including within the Confederation of Sahel States. The Minister Delegate urged a shift from symbolic cooperation to actionable pan-Africanism, focusing on effective mechanisms to link state needs with diaspora expertise, directing investments to strategic sectors, and strengthening concerted diplomacy to amplify Africa's voice internationally. Notable participants in the discussions included Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao, Reverend Maponga, Lazare Ki Zerbo, and Ousmane Touray.
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Must ReadA conference on "Colonization and the Perpetuation of Colonial Systems" was held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on April 20, 2026, as part of a visit by Afro-descendants organized by the Institute for the Development of the African Diaspora ADDI and the Burkinabe government. Panelists included Annick Pikbougoum, Minister of Sports, Youth, and Employment; Dr. Apollinaire Joachimson Kyélèm de Tambèla, former Prime Minister and president of the Farafina Institute of Black Peoples IPN-Farafina; and General Kassoum Coulibaly, former Minister of Defense and Veterans, and Burkina Faso's Ambassador to the USA. They discussed Burkina Faso's current efforts under President Ibrahim Traoré to achieve true sovereignty and urged Afro-descendants to join this struggle against neo-colonization. Dr. Kyélèm de Tambèla emphasized that the colonization of Black people predates the 19th century, citing Arab-Muslim and transatlantic slave trades, followed by colonization and now neo-colonization. He highlighted the difficulty of overcoming neo-colonization due to the globalized capitalist system's influence on minds and consumption habits, particularly through education that perpetuates colonial values. He noted that when President Traoré came to power, it was challenging to introduce alternative political and philosophical approaches, as many Burkinabe were convinced that European bourgeois democracy was the only valid form. Dr. Kyélèm de Tambèla argued that African societies have always had their