Dicko Fils in Halifax

By: Habiba Cooper Diallo

At the end of July, Burkinabe star singer, Dicko Fils was in Halifax to perform at AFRIFEST, Africa Festival of Arts and Culture. While I was there selling copies of my book, YESHIALEM LEARNS ABOUT FISTULA, I had the great pleasure to catch up with Dicko! Watch our one-on-one in the video above. 

Dicko Fils on the kora with master drummer Amadou Kienou on djembe

Dicko and I

Fistula is also a problem in Burkina Faso where Dicko Fils is from. Fistula causes women to leak urine, feces or both after a difficult labour, which leads to intense shame and isolation in their communities due to their bad smell. 

QUICK Facts about Burkina Faso for YOU:
Population- About 20 million
Capital City: Ouagadougou
Major Ethnic Groups: Mossi, Fulani, Gurma
Maternal Mortality: 371 deaths/ 100 000 live births (2015)

On August 4th 1984, Thomas Sankara, led Burkina Faso, formerly called 'Upper Volta' to independence after decades of French colonial rule. Sankara declared that true freedom would come when women were empowered. One of his famous sayings is:

Dicko's hit song "Denke Denke"