FESTIMA explained

International Festival of Masks and the Arts
Native Name:Festival International des Masques et des Arts
Native Name Lang:French
Status:Active
Genre:Cultural festival
Frequency:Biennial
Location:Dédougou
Country:Burkina Faso
First:1996
Founder Name:Association for the Protection of Masks (ASAMA)
Prev:2020
Next:2022
Or Sponsors:-->

The Festival International des Masques et des Arts (International Festival of Masks and the Arts), or FESTIMA, is a cultural festival celebrating traditional African masks held in Dédougou, Burkina Faso.[1] Founded to help preserve traditional cultural practices in the modern age, FESTIMA features masks and traditions from several West African countries.[2] It is currently held biennially in even-numbered years.[3] The most recent edition, the fifteenth, was held from February 29 to March 7, 2020, in Bankuy.[4] [5] [6]

History

In 1996, a group of Burkinabé students founded ASAMA, the Association for the Protection of Masks, in order to promote and preserve traditional mask practices.[7] One of the concerns is that traditional masks are no longer a regular part of life for many. The masks' origins are religious in nature, historically being associated with animism.[8] Animism and other traditional beliefs are minority religions in modern Burkina Faso, with estimates indicating they are practiced by between 7.8[9] and 15 percent[10] of the population. The majority religion in the country is Islam, which does not use the masks in their ceremonies. However, members of ASAMA believe that traditional masks can still be important culturally even to those for whom they are not important religiously. According to Ki Leonce, executive director of ASAMA, "There are two aspects about masks. One is cult and the other is culture; there might be a religious conflict for people who venerate masks, but there is no conflict from the cultural point."

The original FESTIMA, held in 1996, was four days long, and the event has since expanded to seven days.[11] The thirteenth edition of the festival was held from February 27 to March 5, 2016, and featured masks from over 50 communities from six West African countries: Burkina Faso, Benin, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, and Togo.[12] ASAMA estimated 100,000 people attended the event, including more than 2,000 international tourists.

The fourteenth edition was held from February 24 to March 3, 2018.[13]

Events

The primary events of FESTIMA are the performances, where mask wearers dance, accompanied by musicians playing hand drums, whistles, and balafons. Sometimes, a translator is present to interpret the meaning of the dance. Some of the ethnic groups whose traditions are represented are the Bwaba, Marka, and Yoruba.

FESTIMA also includes seminars on historical and cultural topics, storytelling competitions, educational events for children, and a marketplace.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FESTIMA . Official FESTIMA Website . January 11, 2018. (in French)
  2. Web site: The masked men of Burkina Faso . Page . Thomas . May 13, 2016 . CNN . January 11, 2018.
  3. Web site: FESTIMA 2018 in Dédougou, Burkina Faso . Everfest . January 11, 2018 .
  4. Web site: Dédougou : La 15e édition du Festival international des masques et des arts se tiendra du 29 février au 7 mars 2020 . Lawali . D. . February 24, 2020 . Lefaso.net . May 27, 2021 . (in French)
  5. Web site: FESTIMA 2020 : Un défi culturel, sécuritaire et économique . Rédaction B24 . March 3, 2020 . . May 27, 2021 . (in French)
  6. Web site: FESTIMA 2020 : Entre tradition du masque et modernité . M.K . March 16, 2020 . Journal L'Economiste du Faso . May 27, 2021 . (in French)
  7. Web site: Where Music Lovers Should Go in 2016 . Harris . Rachel Lee . January 8, 2016 . New York Times . January 11, 2018.
  8. Web site: In Burkina Faso: FESTIMA, a festival of African masks . Loov . Jacob Balzani . March 13, 2016 . Al Jazeera . January 11, 2018.
  9. Web site: The World Factbook . January 9, 2018 . CIA . January 16, 2018. Estimate is from 2010.
  10. Web site: Enquête Démographique et de Santé et à Indicateurs Multiples . April 2012 . . 3 . January 16, 2018. Estimate is from 2006. (in French)
  11. Web site: FESTIMA – Burkina Faso's festival of masks . Sweet . Jonathan . February 17, 2016 . Yettio . January 11, 2018.
  12. Web site: FESTIMA 2016 : Des infrastructures pour sauvegarder les masques . Sawadogo . Tiga Cheick . March 1, 2016 . LeFaso.net . January 11, 2018. (in French)
  13. Web site: FESTIMA 2018 : C'est parti à Dédougou ! . Kapigdou . Merveille . February 25, 2018 . . August 28, 2019. (in French)