🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Thierry Stéphane Momo's "L'Algorithme Lobi" explores the scientific structure of Lobi music
via Lefaso.net4 min read
Thierry Stéphane Momo, a professional musician, guitar and bass professor, and independent researcher, has authored "L'Algorithme Lobi," a book that presents a structural and algorithmic study of Lobi music, specifically the "Binkontin" genre from southwestern Burkina Faso. Momo's research aims to uncover the hidden mechanisms governing traditional African music, not to validate it externally, but to reveal the complexity of its inherent knowledge using contemporary tools. He states that Lobi music itself "convened mathematics," rather than him imposing mathematics on it. The book details seven major discoveries derived from analyzing a publicly accessible reference piece, simplifying rich and complex results for better understanding. The work employs scientific tools from physics, acoustics, and applied mathematics to demonstrate that traditional music possesses organized structures that can be observed, measured, and described. One key concept is "mathematical maturity," where music's properties evolve and become more complex as it progresses. His analyses show that the studied music tends towards the golden ratio, or phi, a mathematical constant found in nature and art, suggesting a point of equilibrium. Momo interprets this evolution as a movement towards a critical state, balancing order and chaos, where music achieves high complexity without losing structural coherence. He emphasizes that these findings are based on rigorously developed and refined research protocols, a
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The "SASA! Together" project has been launched to prevent violence against women and girls in Burkina Faso and Mali, countries facing security and humanitarian crises. The project's launch workshop brought together administrative authorities, technical services, civil society organizations, community leaders, and technical and financial partners. Discussions focused on the challenges of preventing and addressing violence in environments weakened by insecurity and population displacement. The project aims to present its objectives, methodology, and expected results; enhance understanding of issues related to violence against women and girls; engage stakeholders; and establish effective collaboration. Gender-based violence is a serious human rights violation and a barrier to sustainable development, particularly in the Sahel region. Women and girls are exposed to various forms of violence due to discriminatory social norms, structural power inequalities, and limited access to services. The three-and-a-half-year project seeks to reach nearly 200,000 people in Burkina Faso and Mali through awareness campaigns, community mobilization, and capacity building for those involved in combating gender-based violence. In Burkina Faso, the project will be implemented in Zagtouli and Zongo by the Association d'appui et d'éveil pugsada ADEP, and in Saaba and Nioko 1 by the Initiative pananetugri pour le bien-être de la femme IPBF. In Mali, it will be carried out by the Association pour la pr
The African Forum for Innovations in Occupational Health, Safety, and Well-being AFRISST is scheduled to take place from July 2 to 4, 2026, in Ouagadougou. Organized by Sahelors Consulting and Arobase Communication, the event aims to gather professionals in occupational risk prevention, including occupational physicians, HSE managers, university researchers, public decision-makers, technology providers, and international institutions. Dr. Sounkalo Djibo, in an interview, highlighted the scientific and strategic foundations of AFRISST, its implications for African businesses, and the normative ambitions of the Ouagadougou Charter. Dr. Djibo explained that the forum's "African" scope reflects the belief that solutions for occupational health and safety OHS in Africa cannot solely rely on European or North American standards. He cited the example of heat exposure limits, which are often calibrated for different climatic and physiological contexts than those found in sub-Saharan Africa, where workers frequently operate in environments exceeding 30-33 °C. Ouagadougou was chosen as the host city due to the region's industrial and mining activity and Burkina Faso's growing institutional focus on OHS. Regarding the current state of OHS culture in African companies, Dr. Djibo noted a contrast: multinational corporations and mining operators show increasing maturity with OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001 systems, while most other companies, including formal SMEs, have not yet integrated prevent
Must ReadThe second edition of the International African Stock Exchange Exhibition SIBA has opened, aiming to promote stock market culture across Africa. Léa Zagré/Rimtoumda, representing the Minister of Economy and Finance, highlighted the initiative's role in democratizing investment and expanding financial inclusion. She noted the growing interest among African citizens in financial matters and their desire to actively participate in economic financing, viewing this as a collective awareness of the importance of local savings for the continent's economic transformation. The exhibition, themed "Financial markets and financial inclusion: how to bring the Stock Exchange closer to the population?", seeks to remove barriers that keep many citizens from financial markets. The goal is to make the stock market accessible to all, including youth, entrepreneurs, traders, farmers, informal sector actors, and employees, enabling them to secure their future and contribute to economic growth. This aligns with a broader vision of economic sovereignty, encouraging investment in the national economy as a civic act to finance businesses, infrastructure, and development projects using local resources. The technical advisor to the Minister of Economy and Finance emphasized the critical need for financing in African economies, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, young project leaders, and businesses seeking to innovate. Financial markets are presented as a strategic solution to mobiliz
Burkinabe artist Elty, whose real name is Lionel Tankoano, has released his new album "Likambia," a 13-track project that explores themes of memories, emotions, and transmission. The album prominently features the Gourmantchéma language, alongside other national languages of Burkina Faso such as Mooré, Dioula, and French. Elty, known for his Afro-pop and RnB style, gained public recognition in 2022 for his sensitive lyrics and storytelling. His musical journey began in high school with rap group Trypotes and was influenced by his parents' musical tastes, including zouk and Congolese rumba. Despite studying mining and quarries, music became his primary focus. He received several awards in 2023, including the Kundé for Revelation and Hope, the PCA, and the FAMA, and was recognized as a Guinness Young Talent in 2024. The word "Likambia" means "it will not be lost" in Gourmantchéma, reflecting Elty's desire for his work to endure. Beyond the album, the "Likambia" project includes charity concerts, donations, and social activities, aiming to use art for positive impact. The album delves into universal themes like memory, family, resilience, invisible wounds, love, and personal struggles, with each track representing an emotion or experience. Elty collaborated with three artists from different generations: Maria Bissongo on the title track "Likambia," Faity Baby on "Bobo Kadigné," and Kevin Mik on "Dis-moi," emphasizing the transmission of knowledge between generations. Through "Li