DJ Bwakali
The Myth of Africans Flooding Japan
I woke up to messages asking if Japan has shut the door to Africans or if Africans are about to flood Japan. Both claims...
When 23-year-old Traoré Witnessed an Uprising
Police officers joined the rising wave of unrest, firing weapons and tear gas in protest of high prices, low wages, and President Blaise Compaoré’s...
Traoré Observed President Compaoré’s Hollow Victory
President Compaoré, under pressure from the rising unrest, finally relented. He dismissed his government and named Luc Adolphe Tiao, a former journalist and ambassador...
Traoré Witnesses the People Kicking Out Sankara’s Killer
On October 30th as the day progressed, the protests grew more violent. Ouagadougou witnessed a turning point in Burkina Faso’s history. Thousands of citizens...
Traoré Experiences People Power in Action
For Traoré, Compaoré’s regime had always been a shadow in his life, looming over his youth. Since 1987, when Compaoré seized power through a...
Seeds of revolution taking root in Traoré’s Mind
One year earlier in 2010, a 22-year old Traoré had watched President Compaoré win re-election with over 80 percent of the vote. Although the...
Wasini Island’s Elusive Search for Freshwater
I first felt Wasini’s thirst in the silence after a boat leaves. The engine coughs, the wake settles, and the channel between Shimoni and...
How Burkina Faso’s 2014 Revolution Shaped Ibrahim Traoré
October 30, 2014. Dust and smoke hung like a cloud in Ouagadougou’s hot streets. Burnt shells and tear gas canisters littered the crowded streets....
Traoré Learns of the Atrocious Attack in the Grand Mosque
Just a few weeks later, on a Friday evening, the jihadists committed an atrocious and sacrilegious attack. They stormed the Grand Mosque in the...
Traoré Witnesses the Chronic Shortcomings of the French Forces
Traore was also concerned that the presence of hundreds of French soldiers in the fight against jihadists hadn’t made a difference. A 2018 military...
