Dédougou: The Grand Imam of Dédougou Laid to Rest
Dédougou, November 4, 2025 (AIB)-The people of Dédougou accompanied, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the Grand Imam Famata Almamy Traoré to his final resting place, following his death the previous day in Ouagadougou. The funeral ceremony, marked by a large turnout and deep emotion, brought together authorities, faithful, and people from various backgrounds to pay tribute to the memory of this distinguished religious figure from the Bankui and Sourou regions.
From the night of Monday, November 3, a sea of people gathered at the city’s entrance to receive the deceased’s remains. Religious songs, prayers, and weeping accompanied this moment of contemplation, reflecting the deep attachment the population held for the man who, for several decades, was a respected spiritual guide and a peacemaker.
The body was moved on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 4, followed by a period of reflection and the funeral prayer led by his peers, in the presence of administrative, traditional, and religious authorities. The burial took place at the Dédougou cemetery, on the road to Tougan, in an atmosphere marked by solemnity and piety.
The various testimonies gathered unanimously praised the memory of a man of faith, a unifier and a gatherer, who dedicated his life to the service of God and the community.
In his testimony, the Governor of the Bankui and Sourou regions, Babo Pierre Bassinga, paid tribute to the memory of an affable man. “I arrived here in Dédougou in 2022, and I met an affable man, a man of dialogue, a great man, a man of stature, and a man who was with the entire community, who had placed dialogue between communities, between internally displaced persons and host populations, at the heart of his leadership. I would like here to express my condolences on behalf of all the constituted bodies and the sons and daughters of the region, to the entire Muslim community, and to express my condolences to his family,” he said.
For the Bishop of Dédougou, Monsignor Prosper Bonaventure Ky, there was a certain fraternity between them. “I came to know the Grand Imam especially after I was appointed bishop and installed in Dédougou in July 2018. And since then, we have had very good collaborative relations with the Grand Imam. It wasn’t just a relationship between institutional leaders. It was, I would say, a relationship of friendship, a relationship of fraternity. In fact, the Grand Imam always called me ‘my brother.’ And I, too, called him ‘my brother.’ So, it was truly a fraternity between us. And the Grand Imam showed himself to be a very open person, very open in his life and also very sincere in his friendship,” explained Monsignor Prosper B. Ky.
A faithful member of the grand mosque, Cheick Oumar Koné, deeply moved, insisted on paying homage to the man he considered a spiritual father, a charismatic man. “He was someone who knew how to bring people together, particularly Muslims, and generally the entire social fabric of the Boucle du Mouhoun,” he said.
A former collaborator of the late illustrious figure, Mamadou Palenfo, former head of the Dédougou cotton region, knew the man over 20 years ago. “I remember him as a great man, a man of heart, a man of peace, a unifier who worked hard for the community, especially in interfaith dialogue. For inter-religious dialogue at the level of the Boucle du Mouhoun region, he even once chose me to sponsor some of the diocese’s activities. The late El Hadj Famata Almamy Traoré embodied tolerance, justice, and kindness. His sermons and advice have marked generations of faithful, both Muslim and non-Muslim,” testified Mamadou Palenfo.
The religious community of Dédougou is preparing to continue his work, in the spirit of peace and fraternity that he always championed. The late El Hadj Famata Almamy Traoré now rests among his own. His memory will remain etched in the collective consciousness, as that of a man of faith and dialogue, whose example will continue to inspire generations to come.
Burkina Information Agency
Stanislas Bado
