“The country of honest men” has seen its last years a strengthening of its associative environment and a greater commitment of Burkinabe citizens in the future of the country which led in October 2014 to the resignation of its president, Blaise Compaore in power for 27 years. This popular mobilization has been possible thanks in particular to the important work of cultural associations and rights defenders who have instilled a culture of public debate and citizenship in society.
Cartooning for Peace and the Festival Ciné Droit Libre join forces to promote a culture of peace and democracy among Burkinabe youth and prisoners through press cartoons. Ciné Droit Libre is a festival founded in 2004 in Burkina Faso by the Semfilms association. It is held every year in 4 West African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire. Ciné Droit Libre’s mission is to promote and defend human rights and freedom of expression in Africa.
Financed by the European Union,”Cartooning for Peace and Democracy” in Burkina Faso begins during the last edition of the Festival in Ouagadougou (9-16 December 2017) under the theme of migration. The Coordinators of the Ciné Droit Libre Clubs and the Burkinabe press cartoonists follow a two-day training course in the Cartooning for Peace pedagogy of speech liberation through press cartoons. Together they meet young people from four Ouagadougou schools and prisoners from the Ouagadougou Central Prison (MACO).
With the support of the French Institute of Ouagadougou, an exhibition entitled “Cartooning for Peace and Democracy in Burkina Faso” offers a cross view of Burkinabe cartoonists Glez, Marto, Timpous, Sam, Main 2 Dieu, Zoetaba, Ledon, Deris on the major subjects of society in Burkina-Faso (education, migration, health…)
The exhibition circulates in 2018 in the Dori, Ouahigouya, Koudougou, Bobo and Fada Ciné Droit Libre Clubs, accompanied by screenings, debates and meetings with press cartoonists.
In 2018, two Burkinabe penitentiary establishments are hosting cartoonists for a debate with the cartoonists and a collaborative fresco based on the model created in December 2017 at MACO.
Download the press release here.
Read more on the festival here.
Discover the exhibition “Cartooning for Peace and Democracy” (in French):
