“Faso Danfani – Culture, Identity, and Global Responsibility”
To raise awareness in Germany about the cultural heritage of Burkina Faso, the traditional woven fabric “Faso Danfani,” and the connections between global responsibility, cultural identity, and peace, and to represent these themes within the diaspora, several events will be held. The program will focus on exploring fashion as part of cultural identity and its role in promoting peace.
September 12, 2026, Location: Forum Factory
Starts at 5:00 p.m.
1. Screening of the film “Sirene de Faso Fani” by Michel K. Zongo (2014)
The documentary tells the story from the perspective of former workers at a once important cotton factory in Burkina Faso. It shows how the factory’s closure in 2001, driven by global economic pressures, plunged thousands of people into unemployment and poverty. Michel K. Zongo sheds light on the social and economic consequences of a globalized economy that focuses solely on growth and numbers but neglects local needs and traditions. About ten years after the closure, the film examines how those affected are rebuilding their lives and what challenges they continue to face.
2. Panel and Discussion
Starts at 6:30 p.m.
Speakers: Moderator: Djif Djimeli, filmmaker from Cameroon
1st Speaker: Ben Isac Compaoré, fashion designer from Burkina Faso
2nd Speaker: Odile Woni, social scientist from Burkina Faso
There are several key questions designed to cover aspects of development policy,
economics, and culture. For example:
• What were the long-term social and economic consequences of the closure of the
cotton mill for the local population in Burkina Faso?
• What role do fair trade practices and international partnerships play in
ensuring the stability of local industries?
• How can the fashion and textile industry in Burkina Faso use traditional fabrics
to strengthen the local economy and culture?
• What significance do traditional West African fabric techniques (e.g., Mali:
bogolanfini, indigo, batik) have for today’s economy and fashion?
3. Interactive Workshop
On Sunday, September 13, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Intergalaktische Kulturverein, Sprengelstr. 15, Woka-Kuma Deutschland e.V., 13353 Berlin, invites you to an interactive workshop on fashion and fast fashion.
Together, we’ll take a critical look at the global interconnections of clothing production and explore the journey our clothes actually take—from raw materials through processing to sale. A video and a presentation on “The Journey of a T-Shirt” will provide a vivid introduction to the topic.
Another focus is on traditional fabrics and handicraft techniques from African countries. Using Faso Danfani from Burkina Faso as an example, participants will learn more about the history, The symbolism and social significance of this handwoven fabric. By touching and comparing different materials, participants can directly experience the difference between traditional handicrafts and industrial fabric production. The activity also explores the connection between cultural identity, craftsmanship, tradition, and modernity, as well as the importance of handicrafts for social cohesion and peace.
Together, we will then discuss the differences between fast fashion and fair fashion and explore how fashion can be made more sustainable and equitable. What responsibilities do consumers bear, and what responsibilities does the industry bear? What perspectives do the African and West African diaspora bring to this debate? Through discussion, we’ll identify concrete ways to act sustainably—such as swapping, repairing, and using clothing for longer, or shopping more consciously and fairly.
Finally, we’ll get hands-on: In an interactive upcycling and repair workshop, participants can repair, alter, and creatively redesign their own garments. The workshop is aimed at interested neighbors, fashion enthusiasts, designers, and cultural professionals; representatives of sustainable fashion initiatives; activists; as well as members of the African/West African diaspora and those involved in Berlin’s art, culture, and education sectors. The focus is on connection, exchange, creative experimentation.
These events are funded by Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit
