BURKINA FASO FOOD & DRINK
Burkinabé cuisine is typical
for West Africa, with staple foods including sorghum, millet, rice, maize, nuts,
potatoes and yams. Mutton, beef and fish are common ingredients while
vegetables are recognizably European, with tomatoes, carrots, onions and
spinach being fundamental to the country’s cuisine. In rural areas, meat is often
replaced with fish or boiled eggs. Unexpectedly, Burkina Faso is known for its
tasty local strawberries. A range of banana varieties play an important part in
both savory and sweet dishes. Mangoes, papayas and coconuts (normally sold for
their water rather than their flesh) are all ready available on the streets of
even the smallest towns.
SPECIALITIES
Babendra – Stew of fish,
fermented beans and cabbage or spinach.
Tô – Mashed sorghum or millet
that is the traditional carbohydrate of all meals.
Rizgras: Rice cooked with meat,
tomatoes and onions.
Brochettes – Meat cooked on a
skewer.
Sauce Gombo – A sauce made
from okra.
Pouletbicyclette – A grilled
chicken dish popular across West Africa, served with carrots and potatoes.
Ragout d’lgname – Strew of vegetables
and meat, frequently beef.
Dôla – Local beer made from
pearl millet or sorghum wheat.
Gapalo- Drink of soured milk
and millet grains.
Bissap – Drink made from
bissap flowers.
TIPPING – Service is generally
included in the bill (about 10 to 15%) although it is customary to tip taxi drivers,
porters and hotel staff. Tipping is more expected in the better-class
restaurants.
Drinking Age: 18
SHOPPING IN BURKINA FASO
Good markets exist in Bobo Dioulasso,
Dori, Gorom-Gorom, Ouahigouya and Ouagadougou. Bargaining in the traditional marketplace
is recommended. Purchases include wooden statuettes, bronze medals, masks,
worked skins from the tannery in Ouagadougou, jewelry, fabrics, handwoven blankets
and leather goods and crafts ranging from chess sets to ashtrays. The Grande
Marche in Bobo Dioulasso is much smaller and less cramped market. Shopping
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 0800-1200 and 1500-1800. Some shops may be open
Sunday and there are daily markets in the main towns.
NIGHTLIFE IN BURKINA FASO
Nightlife is particularly good
in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. There are several nightclubs in Ouagadougou,
some with live music and several cinemas, both open-air and air-conditioned.
Bobo Dioulasso has a lively street-café scene, good open-air bars and
restaurants and a number of open-air and air-conditioned discos. The Wassa Club
and Les Bambous are popular venues.
ABOUT BURKINA FASO
On the face of it you can see
why Burkina Faso lacks mainstream appeal: A landlocked West African nation with
rowdy neighbors, this country has a harsh climate, unforgiving geography and an
infrastructure few would want to be at the mercy of. Set piece attractions are also
lacking. Yet Burkina Faso remains an enthralling destination for intrepid
travelers, thanks to its wonderful inhabitants and dramatic landscapes. As
such, the country, though not frequently visited, is a fine place in which to
immerse yourself in West African culture. Meaning “land of the honest people”,
Burkina Faso proudly proclaims to be one of the friendliest countries in Africa
– and visitors are sure of a warm welcome. Burkinabé, as the people of Burkina
Faso are known, are the exact opposite of the harsh land that they inhabit –
and it is these cordial and courteous people who make coming here such a joy.
Burkina Faso’s traditional
cultures are best sampled in its two largest cities: The fabulously named
capital, Ouagadougou (also known as “Ouaga”) and the second city of Bobo-Dioolasso
(/simply referred to as “Bobo”). Both have large communities of artists,
particularly Ouagadougou, which is famed for its music scene. The art and architecture
of the capital are also worthy of attention, with several largescale sculptures
enlivening the streets. Away from the cities, Burkina Faso’s four national
parks harbor a surprising diversity of wildlife. If you can’t explore them
all., then do make a beeline for Arli, which is home to a wide range of ecosystems
and is an important habitat for West Africa’s last big cats and elephants.
Hippos, monkeys and various exotic bird species also call this national park
home. Burkina Faso might not suit firs time travelers, but for hardy adventurers
this is a destination in which to veer off the tourist trail and discover the
hidden gems of West Africa.
HISTORY OF BURKINA FASO
Burkina Faso was once a part
of the Great Mossi Empire, one of the strongest of ancient African kingdoms.
The Mossi Empire was still in place when the whole region was annexed by the
French in 1896. After a period as part of the colony of Upper Senegal-Niger, the
territory was reorganized as the separate colony of Upper Volta in 1919. It was
then carved up between Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and French Sudan (now Mali) in 1932,
only to be reconstituted as an independent entity in 1947, as a French Overseas
Territory. Internal self-government was granted in 1957, with full independence
(as Upper Volta) following three years later. The early years of independence
were largely dominated by the military, notably the regime of General Sangoule
J. Lamizana, who ousted the civilian government of Maurice Yameogo in 1966 and
ruled until 1980.
Lamizana was followed by
another military government, followed in turn by a rebellion in 1983, which
brought a group of young radical officers to power under the leadership of
Thomas Sankara, who changed the country’s name to Burkina Faso the following
year. The Sankara government laid down a new political direction for the
country, which had previously pursued a capitalist scheme of economic
development. Particular emphasis was put on the development of the rural economy.
However, growing tensions within the ruling National Revolutionary Council came
to a violent climax in October 1987, when Sankara was killed in a revolt led by
his second-in-command, Captain Blaise Compaore. Under pressure from the international
community and in particular France, a pluralist system of government was
adopted in 1991. Elections in 1998 and 2000 returned Compaore and his party with
substantial majorities but their integrity was undermined by opposition boycotts
and allegations of fraud and malpractice. He was eventually overthrown by
popular revolt in October 2014 after attempting to extend his 27-year rule.
Since Compaore’s overthrow, the country is returning to democratic principles,
despite a couple of further false starts, with the support of the African Union
and regional body ECOWAS.
DID YOU KNOW?
Burkina Faso roughly
translates as “land of the upright people.”
The country is home to 63 different
ethnic groups.
Burkina Faso has one of the highest
fertility rates on earth, with the population increasing five-fold since
independence.
RELIGIOIN IN BURKINA FASO –
More than 40% follow animist beliefs; 50% are Muslim and 10% Christian (mostly
Roman Catholic).
SOCIAL CONVENTIONS IN BURKINA
FASO
Women are always expected to dress
modestly since this is a Muslim country. Within the urban areas, many French customs
prevail. Dress should be casual and appropriate for hot weather (yet short
skirts and shorts are best avoided0. Lounge suits for men and formal wear for
women are required for evening entertainment. Burkina Faso is a fascinating
country because of its diversity: Over 60 ethnic groups dwell in this country,
proud to be Burkinabe and yet keen to preserve their own social and cultural idiosyncrasies.
Outside the cities, little has changed for centuries and visitors should respect
local customs and traditions.
LANGUAGE IN BURKINA FASO
The official language is
French. Several other languages such as Mossi, Moore, Dioula, Peul, Fulfulde
and Gourmantche are also spoken.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Tropical. The dry season lasts
from November to March and the rainy season from June to October. The best
months are November to February when the Harmattan
wind blows from the east producing dry and cool weather. However, if you have
allergies, avoid December to February as the Harmattan turns Burkina Faso into a dust bowl. Rainfall is highest
in the southwest and lowest in the northeast. Avoid traveling in late March to
May as the climate is too hot and dry to bear even for the locals.
REQUIRED CLOTHING – Lightweights
and rainwear for the rainy season. Plenty of scarves and handkerchiefs are recommended
during the months when the Harmattan blows.
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