Woka-Kuma Festival 2025
That was the Woka Kuma Festival 2025 on September 13, 2025, at the Forum Factory Berlin! In addition to the cultural performances on the day of the festival at the Forum Factory, there were activities with the delegation from Bobo Dioulasso and the exchange meeting at the “Journées des ami.e.s” at the Burkinabe Embassy in Berlin.
Reception of the delegation by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Germany
The delegation of the 10th edition of the Woka Kuma Festival, led by Abdoul-Aziz Sinka, was received by His Excellency Justin Toro Ouoro, the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Germany.
The delegation included representatives of the Association Woka Kuma Bobo-Dioulasso, led by its vice president Alioune Dagba Traoré, the promoter of Bobo Lolo, York Félix Darga, and the winners of the Bobo Lolo 2025 competition, the group Afrikan’Da, who proudly presented their trophy to the ambassador.
The meeting served to thank the ambassador for his constant support. He praised the festival’s commitment to promoting Burkinabe culture beyond the country’s borders and encouraged the team to continue on this path.
Meeting with cultural partners in Berlin
After visiting the embassy, representatives of the associations Woka Kuma Deutschland e.V. and Woka Kuma Bobo-Dioulasso, accompanied by Romaric Sitélé Sanou (representative of the Director General of the Semaine Nationale de la Culture), met with important cultural institutions in Berlin.
Among those involved in the discussions were PIRANHA (organizer of the Berlin Carnival, the second largest in Europe), WOMEX (World Music Expo), and Prof. Dr. Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, director of the House of World Cultures.
These meetings enabled fruitful exchanges and laid the foundation for future cooperation in the field of international cultural promotion.
Friends Day at the Embassy of Burkina Faso
This year, Woka-Kuma Deutschland e.V. was able to cooperate with the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Berlin as part of the “Journée des amis.” Various diaspora associations were invited to the embassy to combine their efforts and exchange ideas about their activities. Five interactive workshops on the topics of “health,” “renewable energies,” “education,” and “culture,” as well as presentations, helped to strengthen ties between Burkinabè living in Germany, their partners, and friends.
Panels
The opening ceremony of the festival was accompanied by two panels: The first panel was led by Alioune Dagba Traoré, Vice President of Woka Kuma Burkina, and focused on the successes to date and the development of the festival over the years. The second panel was presented by Sitélé Romaric Sanou, Director of Cooperation and Cultural Exchange at SNC, and highlighted Burkinabe cultural identity in light of current security and humanitarian challenges.
Cultural Evening Event
The grand concert evening of the 10th edition of the Woka Kuma Berlin 2025 festival took place at Forum Factory under the patronage of His Excellency Justin Toro Ouoro, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Germany.
After a welcome address by Abdoul-Aziz Sinka, President of Woka Kuma Berlin, the guests were welcomed and the members of the two associations were introduced. In his speech, Sinka emphasized the importance of the diaspora community and the cooperation between Berlin and Bobo-Dioulasso for the success of the festival.
Concerts and supporting program
The musical evening offered a varied program:
“Faso Music”:
Traditional music from Burkina Faso – a mixture of rhythms from different ethnic groups with balafon, n’goni, and djembe. Singer Rama N’goni combined her traditional songs with instruments from her homeland. Her voice can enchant hearts and tell stories, and even though not everyone in the room spoke her language, the message of unity and blessings was conveyed to the audience.
“Xalaas Family”:
Sabar music from Senegal – traditional sounds and dances, presented by the Berlin band. When one, two, or three drums come together, another is needed to make the sound bigger and fuller. Yoro Mbaye and his Xalaas Family got the drums and the hall spinning.
10:30 p.m. – “Afrikan’Da”:
Slam, spoken word, and rap from Burkina Faso.The group from Bobo-Dioulasso, founded in 2012, thrilled the audience with passionate poetry, social messages, and expressive performances. As the last act of the evening, they brought French-language poetry and the wind straight from Bobo Dioulasso to the stage.
Parallel to the concerts, guests were able to enjoy culinary specialties from Burkina Faso and visit a “Made in Burkina” arts and crafts market—a true showcase for the country’s creativity and craftsmanship. Six exhibitors from Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso displayed traditional bronze, bead, and textile art.