In Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, you see a remarkable number of women riding motorcycles – a means of transport that was exclusively for men for a long time. It is now considered a symbol of women’s emancipation in the African country.
Rush hour in Ouagadougou: In the capital of Burkina Faso you see a striking number of women on motorcycles. Confidently they steer the two-wheelers through the urban jungle. Motorcycling is considered a symbol of women’s emancipation in the West African country, where motorized two-wheelers have long been used only by men.
“That’s what makes the Burkinese woman, the courage of the woman. It’s brave, you have to have courage, we’ve always told ourselves that it takes time to get to all our activities here in Ouagadougou. So we really need that to be able to devote ourselves to our tasks,” says Valérie Dambré from Ouagadougou.
Filmmaker pays tribute to “Burkina Babes”.
When Nigerian filmmaker Kagho Idhebor first came to Ouagadougou, he was amazed by the number of women riding motorcycles here. In the documentary “Burkina Babes” he erected a monument to them.
“It was something very special. I’ve been to some parts of the world and even in Nigeria you see a lot of motorcycles, men riding motorcycles. But I’ve never seen women ride motorcycles so confidently and independently. And that fascinated me, it amazed me,” explains Idhebor.
Another step towards independence
In the capital of Burkina Faso, many women now limit themselves not only to motorcycling. You have also completed a training as a mechanic. For many, another step on the road to independence.
“You see the men doing this, other men try to discourage you, they say, ‘You woman, why do you come here to do this, this is a man’s job, why do you come here, your place is in the kitchen, in the office. ‘ But why shouldn’t I be able to do that, I can also do something better,” says Bérénice Zagali, who is training as a mechanic.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
