Cultural Sovereignty: An International Symposium in Ouagadougou to Reexamine the Legacy of Cheikh Anta Diop
The Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, Pingdwendé Gilbert OUEDRAOGO, presided over the opening of the international symposium on the theme “Sovereignty: Cultural Heritage and the Vision of Cheikh Anta Diop” on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in Ouagadougou.
Held from October 14 to 15, 2026, this academic conference takes place on the eve of the 39th anniversary of the assassination of Comrade Captain Thomas SANKARA and his twelve companions. It will bring together participants from a dozen countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, both in person and remotely. A total of 52 presentations are on the program, including 49 panel discussions and three keynote addresses, according to Professor Vincent OUATTARA, chair of the scientific committee.
At the opening of the conference, Minister Pingdwendé Gilbert OUEDRAOGO emphasized the importance of understanding and reclaiming African history. He underscored the convergence of the ideals of Cheikh Anta Diop and Thomas SANKARA, who, despite their different paths, shared the same ambition: to defend the dignity of African peoples and their ability to take control of their own destiny. While the former devoted his research to the rehabilitation of African history and civilizations, the latter spearheaded a project of political and social transformation. Their respective legacies thus serve as a reminder that culture, knowledge, and memory are essential drivers of the emancipation of African peoples.
This reflection also invites Burkina Faso to examine the role of its national languages, traditions, indigenous knowledge, and scientific output in its development process. For the minister, the promotion of cultural heritage must go beyond rhetoric and translate into concrete actions that foster the transmission of knowledge, creativity, and the education of younger generations. “Only then can cultural sovereignty become a tangible resource in the service of collective progress,” he stated.
The mobilization of researchers, faculty members, and advocates of Pan-Africanist ideals, as well as the announcement of the publication of the symposium proceedings, demonstrate a commitment to sustaining the discussions initiated beyond this event. By bringing together this scientific community around the work of Cheikh Anta Diop, Burkina Faso aims to contribute to the debate on building an Africa that is master of its own destiny. Indeed, lasting sovereignty requires knowledge of one’s own history, the promotion of one’s intellectual resources, and the transmission to future generations of confidence in their ability to build their own future.
The inaugural lecture, centered on the symposium’s theme, was delivered by Professor Salmone FALL, a Senegalese professor and researcher, Third Worldist, and defender of Cheikh Anta Diop’s ideals.
As a reminder, Cheikh Anta Diop passed away on February 7, 1986, on the eve of the inaugural preparatory conference for the creation of the Institute of Black Peoples (IPN), which was held in Ouagadougou from April 20 to 25, 1986.
