MUSIC. CULTURE. COMMUNITY
Led by Moussa — artist, educator, community builder
Performances. Workshops. Community Project. Shop
Bolomakote School
Faso Deme Bagaou Meaning
Our Mission
Located in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
350 students supported
( boys and girls)
Providing inclusive and accessible education for the local community
“ people who remember where they come from and support their community.“
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Faso - home
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Deme - help
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Bagaou - people
Expand educational access by:
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Strengthening infrastructure
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Promoting long-term sustainability
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Nurturing cultural identity and confidence through arts and creative learning
Our mission is to expand educational opportunities by improving essential infrastructure, supporting long-term self-sufficiency, and celebrating cultural heritage through traditional arts to empower self-love and confidence.
Our 3 Pillars
01.
Eliminate Educational Barriers
Provide consistent nutrition, improved facilities, and the essential resources students need to learn in a dignified environment.
02.
Ensure Sustainable Generational Impact
Develop infrastructure and garden spaces that support long-term self-sufficiency and strengthen the community for future generations.
Cultivate Cultural Roots & Self-Love
Create spaces for traditional arts, music, helping students reconnect with their roots, preserve heritage, and explore different ways of learning and expressing.
Our Approach
Our approach is to first focus on strengthening the essential conditions that support student wellbeing and learning.
Once these foundations are in place, it expands into a broader ecosystem that supports creativity, cultural engagement, and long-term community development.
The work is initially structured across two phases.
By combining wellbeing, creativity, and cultural connection, the project supports both individual growth and stronger communities.
Every student deserves a safe, empowering environment to learn, express themselves, and grow in ways that recognise their individuality. Building confidence, wellbeing, and life skills while exploring their potential and sense of self.
At its core, this project is guided by a simple belief:
Phase 1 (live) focuses on securing the essential conditions that allow students to learn, grow, and stay healthy at school.
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Nutrition program
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Sanitation Facilities
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Kitchen Construction
Phase 2 (vision) builds on this foundation by introducing integrated campus projects that support creativity, culture, and community development.
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Arts, Music & Rehearsal Room
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Sustainable Cultivation (School Garden)
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Library & Sports Activities
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Refectory & Other Logistics
Phase 1: Essential Foundations
(Core Wellness & Infrastructure)
Nutrition Program
Healthy daily meal for every student
Served each school morning (5 days a week) in an organised, class-by-class system to ensure efficiency and order.
Secure food storage unit
An existing room will be renovated to safely store supplies, keeping them organised and protected.
Phase 2: Community Ecosystem
(integrated campus projects)
Arts, Music & Rehearsal Room
Creative space for arts, movement, and cultural expression
A dedicated environment where students can explore music, dance, and performance through engaging, hands-on activities.
Supporting confidence, identity, and connection
Through creative expression and engagement with cultural traditions, students are supported in building confidence, a sense of identity, and connection to themselves and their community at their own rhythm.
Equipped environment for learning and collaboration
The space will include accessible traditional instruments, open areas for movement, and a setting that supports both individual exploration and group practice.
Our Director, Alai, speaking at the World Cultural Festival 2025 in India, sharing Burkina Faso’s culture and the vision behind the project.
The Story Behind the Project
Faso Deme Bagaou began with a commitment from artist Moussa Dembele to support education, culture, and wellbeing through art, creativity, and community engagement.
It builds on years of personal work supporting the community in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The project was created to continue that work in a way that can grow over time and support the community’s path toward self-sufficiency, grounded in the belief that collaboration can create lasting opportunities for future generations.
Moussa is a griot of Burkinabé and Malian heritage, a DBS-cleared teaching artist, performer, costume maker, and master instrument maker with over 20 years of experience.
He preserves cultural heritage through the traditional craft of instrument making, carefully shaping and tuning each instrument so it carries its own voice. For instruments such as the balafon, this includes carving the wood so that each note resonates correctly.
He also leads workshops in schools, including with children with special educational needs, sharing cultural knowledge through creative practice.
BAGAOU
FASO DEME
A community initiative Supporting education, cultural heritage, and sustainability in Burkina Faso
