Skip to content
The Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou went forward this year despite a surge in jihadist attacks. “To cancel at a time like this would’ve been a blow,” said the festival’s director. 

The Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou went forward this year despite a surge in jihadist attacks. “To cancel at a time like this would’ve been a blow,” said the festival’s director. 

Photographer: Katarina Hoije

CityLab
Culture

Festivals Are a Form of Defiance for West African Cities Facing Terror

In a region where culture is central to identity, organizers have continued with festivals like Fespaco in Burkina Faso despite the security risks. 

Virtually every other year since 1969, Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, has put on a film festival, culminating in an award ceremony sometimes described as Africa’s own Oscars. Not even war has stood in its way.

Despite a surge in jihadist attacks that has displaced about 2 million people in the West African country the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, better known as Fespaco, took place this year in the dusty capital at the southern fringe of the Sahara Desert, drawing more than 15,000 filmmakers, movie stars, artists and industry players.

Share