Burkina Faso: National Museum, when the State relies on culture as a strategic lever for development
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubakar Nacanabo, made a guided visit to the National Museum in Ouagadougou as part of the Month of Burkinabè Heritage, a government initiative. This highly symbolic visit reflects the government’s commitment to repositioning culture as a central pillar of sustainable development.
Accompanied by his team, Minister Nacanabo spent over an hour exploring the museum’s various exhibitions. He discovered the richness and diversity of Burkinabe heritage through traditional utensils, architectural models from different ethnic groups, musical instruments, and traditional masks. This moment of cultural immersion underscored the importance of better understanding, preserving, and promoting the nation’s cultural identity.
At the end of the visit, the minister emphasized that culture, like the economy, is a foundational pillar of resilience. He noted that nations that have achieved significant development are those that have relied on their tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In his words, “To understand our history is to better shape our future. Otherwise, others will do it for us, and not necessarily in our best interest.”
Praising the initiative of the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism and the remarkable work of the National Museum’s management, Nacanabo highlighted the strategic importance of such efforts. He affirmed that the museum is more than just a place of exhibition—it is a tool for collective awareness and a potential driver of socio-economic progress.
The Director General of the National Museum, Sabari Christian Dao, expressed his satisfaction with the visit. He mentioned that the museum houses a rich collection of more than 14,000 archaeological, ethnographic, and contemporary objects. He also welcomed the growing interest from authorities, who have been making more frequent visits and boosting the museum’s visibility.
Through this initiative, the Burkinabe government is laying the foundations for a development model where culture and progress go hand in hand, fostering stronger social cohesion, increased tourism value, and a deeper integration of national identity into public policies.
