XT2AW – Burkina Faso

From September 8 to 22, 2024, Harald, DF2WO will serve as XT2AW again from Burkina Faso.
He will operate in the 80 – 10m band, primarily SSB, FT4, and QO-100 satellites.
Nearest DX Point XT2AW
XT2AW Log Searchsearch QSL was performed by M0OXO and OQRS.

Burkina Faso: Seeking Exotic Customs

Burkina Faso is a country that is fascinating for its ethnicity. This small country in western Africa is one of the poorest countries on the continent, but there is a lot to see here.

The untouched beauty of the African savannah is the main value of the country. Within its territory there are 3 national parks and about 20 reserves of various sizes where you can get to know the rich flora and fauna of these places. Travelers from different countries come here for dangerous and adventurous safaris.

Burkina Faso’s complicated history

Burkina Faso means “land of honest people” in Moorish. The former colonial name of Upper Volta remained until the early 1980s. Most residents are Muslims and Catholics, but ancient religious beliefs are still alive and well here. For example, members of the Gurma tribe still believe in land worship.

This fertile land has been the object of contention among many tribes since the first settlements appeared. In the Middle Ages, several large tribes merged to form the Kingdom of Ouagadougou. The indigenous people fought desperately against the European colonists who came to this land, but due to the civil war, they could not defend the country. As a result, the tribal lands were occupied by the French for a long time.

Ouagadougou capital

Arriving in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, I was immediately attracted by the bustling streets where the city and the countryside interweave. Everywhere was bustling with people: old green taxis, motorcycles and bicycles, donkeys pulling carts, porters carrying goods on their heads, banana vendors, open-air cafes playing loud music, busy chickens and goats, and colorful hand-painted billboards.

The railway divides the city into two parts: the south side is concentrated with major tourist attractions and administrative buildings, and the north side is a residential area. The Grand Mosque is located here – the ancient Muslim church in Ouagadougou and the only gathering place for believers to pray on Friday.

The capital also has a rich cultural life: in the Burkinabe-style “People’s House”, you can watch theatrical performances. In odd years, the capital of Burkina Faso traditionally hosts the Fespaço Film Festival, which brings together filmmakers from all over the continent. Also worth seeing is the imposing Martyrs’ Monument and the Morro-Naba Palace, which belonged to the ruler of the Mossi tribe.

Burkina Faso. Author – Arnaud Delberghe.

XT2AW Burkina Faso. Radio Amateur Information

DXCC Countries – XT Burkina Faso.
WAC Continent – Africa.
WAZ Zone – CQ 35.
ITU Zone-46.
QTH Positioner – IK92.

Interesting Places

A few kilometers from the capital, between the sand dunes, lies the Gorom-Grom market, the most colorful bazaar in West Africa. Representatives of the various ethnic groups that inhabit the country come here to display unique wares – the fruits of hard work – and demonstrate their skills. Representatives of the once warlike Mossi tribe, now successful in agriculture, offer karit seed oil and purebred horses, while the Sisala tribe sells finely woven leather and woven baskets. Fishing gear can be purchased at the ga, while Gurma offers gorgeous belts and exquisite handmade fabrics.

One of the most unusual attractions in Burkina Faso is the Sindhu ruins. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Few tourists reach this semi-desert area with its towering peaks and sandstone columns because they are in danger of being destroyed. The ruins can only be visited during the dry season – there is a fascinating 3 km long hiking route. The valley has an otherworldly landscape.

The royal residence of the Kasena people in the village of Tiber deserves special attention. To get here, you need permission from the elders of the tribe. Houses here are built from all available makeshift materials, painted with ornaments and patterns, decorated with murals on everyday themes. This is not only for decoration, but also for protection from rain. Buildings made of mud, cow dung and straw have no windows – only a small hole through which sunlight can penetrate. The surface is covered with a natural varnish made from beans.

The village of Sabu in Burkina Faso has a magical attraction – there are “docile” and harmless crocodiles in the pond. Locals feed chickens to the crocodiles, and they don’t mind tourists sitting on their backs or touching their tails.

Characteristics of African cuisine

In the restaurants you can taste European and local cuisine. Familiar pizza and pasta are especially popular among tourists, but here you can taste more exotic dishes. It can be chicken in peanut batter with bananas, palm wine or meat of various snakes, hippopotamus, antelopes, monkeys. Almost all food is seasoned with pili-pili sauce, pepper brings a spicy taste and acts as a disinfectant. The mainstay of the diet is sorghum porridge, cooked in clay pots and served with a sauce made from baobab leaves.

The local fast food is meat, seasoned with pepper and served in a baguette. The Burkinabés also brew delicious beer in the streets and know about 30 ways to make coffee. In the villages you can taste zom-kom, a friendship drink made from honey, sorghum and ginger – served when you meet someone. For dessert, there is fluffy banana cream and whipped egg whites.

Folk Crafts

Local artisans create unique products from bronze and leather, crafting peculiar objects adorned with artistic embroidery. Jewelry is produced here due to the development of gold and silver deposits.

You can bring back some exotic souvenirs from your trip, which are sold in the handicraft market – masks of the Mossi, Popo and Lobi (ethnic groups living in the country). The masters of the Mossi tribe make original antelope masks, some of which are up to 2 meters high, which they paint in red or white. The Popo make large butterfly masks that attract people with their bright colors – white, red and black stripes. Every two years, the Festima mask festival is held in Dedugu, with the participation of 40 villages. For several days, from evening to morning, there are exciting mask dances and spectacular costume performances.

Burkina Faso videos

XT2AW. Where is Burkina Faso located. Map.