Meeting burkinabè author Roukiata Ouedraogo in Ouagadougou

In this first-of-its-kind series, we introduce a writer in their homeland. Today, we meet Roukiata Ouedraogo, a celebrated humorist, actress, and author born in Burkina Faso. In Ouagadougou, she opens up about her upbringing, early career, and lifelong struggles—offering a rare glimpse into her world.

An artist shaped between two worlds

« I am a Franco-Burkinabè writer, humorist, and actress. Born in Burkina Faso, I grew up between Fada N’Gourma and Ouagadougou before moving to France in the early 2000s. My artistic journey has been shaped by theater, writing, comedy, radio, and activism. »

Roukiata Ouedraogo’s career is a testament to her versatility. From the stages of Ouagadougou to the studios of Paris, she has carved out a unique space where humor meets storytelling, and personal experience fuels public dialogue. Her work reflects the duality of her identity—rooted in Burkina Faso yet deeply influenced by her life in France.

Literary works that bridge cultures

« In her tiny attic room in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, Roukiata packs her bags: tomorrow, she’s heading home to Burkina Faso. What to take? What to leave behind? How to please everyone without stripping herself bare? Between colorful tops from Paname Tati that her cousins will fight over and a two-slice toaster with a crumb tray for her mother, she recounts her wild youth as a spirited young woman from the working-class neighborhoods of Ouagadougou, all the way to her life in the heart of Paris’s ‘Little Africa.’ »

You’ll laugh at the chicken roasters on bicycles, the neighborhood gossips, and the hairdressers of Château-Rouge! You’ll swoon over the flirting techniques of the local boys and the clever tricks used to outsmart the father nicknamed ‘Chien Méchant’ to avoid missing the high school graduation dance. With lively illustrations by Aude Massot, this book is a heartfelt anthem to childhood, family, friendship, and embracing difference… In it, you’ll laugh a lot… but not only. »

— Presentation by Sarbacane Editions

With a light yet nostalgic touch, Roukiata’s writing tenderly captures the essence of her childhood in Burkina Faso. She paints vivid scenes of scorching droughts and torrential rains, the warmth of its people, the harsh realities of corruption and poverty. She recounts tales of her family, the injustice they endured when her father was arrested, and above all, the unyielding strength of her mother—a towering figure who single-handedly raised seven children, selling galettes from her doorstep to make ends meet. For Roukiata, those honey-drizzled galettes are forever linked to the flavors of her childhood and the homeland she cherishes.

— Presentation by Slatkine & Cie Editions

Illustrations: Ouagadougou by Desire Sankara