In this inaugural episode of an innovative series, we meet a writer on their native soil. Today, we journey to Ouagadougou with Roukiata Ouedraogo—actor, comedian, and author—who opens up about her formative years, artistic beginnings, and lifelong struggles. A heartfelt conversation in the heart of Burkina Faso.
From Ouagadougou to Paris: A life shaped by two continents
« As a Franco-Burkinabè writer, comedian, and performer, my roots run deep in Burkina Faso. I grew up between Fada N’Gourma and Ouagadougou before relocating to France in the early 2000s. My artistic journey has been a fusion of theater, writing, humor, radio, and activism. »
Books that shaped the conversation
Titles discussed in the interview:
« In her tiny attic room in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, Roukiata packs her bags. Tomorrow, she returns home to Burkina Faso. What to bring? What to leave behind? How to please everyone without emptying her suitcase? Between vibrant tops from Paname Tati that her cousins will fight over and a two-slice toaster with crumb tray for her mother, she recounts her wild youth as a young woman from Ouagadougou’s working-class neighborhoods to her life today in Paris’s ‘Little Africa.’ »
We laugh with her at the antics of bicycle-powered chicken grillers, the neighborhood’s sharp-tongued women, and the hairdressers of Château-Rouge. We’re captivated by the flirting techniques of local ‘choco’ boys and the clever tricks to outsmart her father, nicknamed ‘Chien Méchant,’ to sneak into the baccalaureate dance. With lively illustrations by Aude Massot, this book is an ode to childhood, family, friendship, and embracing difference. There’s plenty to laugh about… but not just that. »
With a light yet nostalgic touch, Roukiata tenderly recounts her childhood in Burkina Faso—scorching droughts and torrential rains, the warmth of its people, corruption, and hardship. She speaks of her family, the injustice that struck when her father was arrested, and above all, her mother. This resilient woman, a pillar of strength, raised seven children alone, struggling to make ends meet by selling galettes from her doorstep. For Roukiata, those honey-drizzled galettes will forever taste of childhood and the homeland she carries in her heart.
Official website of Roukiata Ouedraogo
Musical illustration: Ouagadougou – Désiré Sankara
