My trip to Burkina fell at the same time as FESPACO film festival. Ouaga is not the most likely place for a film festival but cinema is huge here and every 2 years the city hosts Africa ’s largest film festival. I managed to make it to the opening and closing ceremonies without seeing a single film. Rubbish! The ceremonies were fun though.
Once we got in.
Wasn’t the most well organised event, and although I was with my friends who had media passes, we arrived just as the president did and after that it was impossible to get in via the press entrance.
By the time we resigned ourselves to having to go in the public way, the stadium was already getting packed and there was a moment when we were pushed through the entrance and the metal doors were rammed shut behind us on an increasingly agitated crowd, that I had a slight panic that there might be a stampede. Still, once in the stadium we clambered across others till we found space to sit down. It was only once we found seats that I realised what the cardboard on sale outside was for. The orange dust that is everywhere had not certainly not escaped the stadium and I resigned myself to having an orange bum!
By the time we resigned ourselves to having to go in the public way, the stadium was already getting packed and there was a moment when we were pushed through the entrance and the metal doors were rammed shut behind us on an increasingly agitated crowd, that I had a slight panic that there might be a stampede. Still, once in the stadium we clambered across others till we found space to sit down. It was only once we found seats that I realised what the cardboard on sale outside was for. The orange dust that is everywhere had not certainly not escaped the stadium and I resigned myself to having an orange bum!
Me and Clem in the stadium, relieved to be safely inside!
The women on the welcoming committee for the president and all the other important people had these matching Fespaco outfits.
Thousands of people were packed in to see a display of dancing, giant puppets, music and slightly random somersaulting gymnasts. The prize giving ceremony dragged on a bit (prob because the speakers didn’t work well so couldn’t really hear what was going on, and having missed all the films I didn’t know who was up for any awards!) Fun just people watching in the stadium though.
And trying all the different types of snacks on sale: fried plantain chips were my favourite; carrots and hard boiled eggs were among the more random offerings. Not my idea of the perfect snack in 40 degree heat… 
Me and Clem with the prize giving going on in the background.
Worth the wait for the fireworks at the end though. The crowd went crazy!
Refreshing to see a more positive image of a country and continent that is generally portrayed in such a negative light. Just a shame the festival and the films don’t get wider coverage outside of Africa .
