The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, inaugurated the first Advisory Board of the Institute of Black Peoples (IPN-FARAFINA) on Tuesday in Ouagadougou, calling on Africa to strengthen its intellectual and cultural sovereignty to become the “author of its own destiny.”
Representing the President of the Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Prime Minister Ouédraogo presided over the official installation ceremony for the advisory body of IPN-FARAFINA.
Designed as a hub for reflection, research, and the preservation of Black history and heritage, the Institute aims to bolster Burkina Faso’s cultural, scientific, and historical sovereignty while actively supporting the broader African renaissance.
In his address, the head of government emphasized that sovereignty extends far beyond political, economic, or military dimensions, encompassing cultural, linguistic, scientific, and historical spheres as well.
“Africa can no longer settle for being a mere subject of study or bound by decisions made elsewhere. It must become the author of its own destiny,” Ouédraogo stated. He urged the Institute to serve as an engine for generating knowledge, driving innovation, and shaping development models rooted in African realities.
The newly formed Advisory Board consists of twelve prominent figures from academic, scientific, and pan-African circles. Its Chairman, Claude Aimé Tassembedo, affirmed that IPN-FARAFINA is destined to become a center of scientific excellence, a guardian of the historical memory of Black peoples, and a vital bridge connecting Burkina Faso, the rest of the continent, and the global diaspora.
Through this initiative, the Burkinabè authorities intend to establish the Institute as a continental benchmark for academic research, the promotion of indigenous knowledge, and the global projection of African culture.
HO/te/Sf/lb/abj/APA