Burkina Faso/First edition of San language immersion: Some thirty children initiated

From August 1 to 10, 2025, some thirty children gathered at the Institut de formation du personnel enseignant du Plateau central in Loumbila, to speak and learn about San culture. This immersion in the San language, initiated by the national sub-commission for the San makaa language, culminated on August 10, 2025 at the national museum in Ouagadougou.

Some thirty children aged from five to 23 took part in this ten-day vacation camp. During their stay, they were introduced to the San Ma Kaa language, cultural values, dance steps, musical rhythms, traditional lifestyles and the history of the San community.

Before performing the dance steps to the sound of the mouth bow, the campers first sang the national anthem in San under the admiring gaze of the representative of the Minister in charge of culture, patron of the ceremony.

Lancina Toé, chairman of the national sub-commission for the San makaa language, was delighted with the smooth running of the activities. This immersion, he points out, was not just a transmission of knowledge. "They were unforgettable moments of exchange, sharing, solidarity, self-fulfillment and rediscovery of our linguistic and cultural identity," he said.

By enabling the children to discover the history of the Sanan people, and to write, read and count in San," he adds, "we're doing our bit to promote other cultures, particularly the San.

"Culture is the first link between the citizen and his community, the reflection of our history, the vehicle of our traditions, the very foundation of our culture. By promoting its learning by the younger generations, we are helping to preserve our intangible heritage and strengthen social cohesion", concluded Mr. Toé.

The representative of the Minister of Culture, Michel Saba, congratulated all those involved on the successful organization of the summer camp. He sent messages of congratulations to the child campers. "You should be proud to speak your language, to handle it with ease and to carry the colors of your culture high. This is what will make you complete men, respected Burkinabè citizens", he confided.

The President of Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Jean François Kobiané, who also chaired this first edition, welcomed the sub-commission's initiative. He invited other ethno-linguistic groups in Burkina to follow in the footsteps of the San Makaa.

Source: lefaso.net/