Boni Library Dedication and book donation (March 2, 2009)

[From the U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso website]
On March 2, 2009 Ambassador Jackson and Mr. Patrick Bondé, Mayor of Boni, co-dedicated the brand new library of Boni, sponsored by FAVL, Friends of African Village Libraries.

She was welcomed by the representative of the traditional chiefs, Mr. Bondé Yacouba, Master Mask Carver, the Mayor of Boni, Mr. Patrick Bondé, and the coordinator of FAVL.
Ambassador Jackson was warmly received by a large crowd composed of women, scholars, and traditional chiefs. After the welcome remarks by the chief of Boni, and the Mayor’s speech in which he expressed appreciation for the visit and efforts of United States in the development of Burkina Faso, Ambassador Jackson gave her remarks. She emphasized the importance of libraries and of education to the future of the country. She donated books about the United States, dictionaries and a copy of “The Audacity of Hope” in French by President Barack Obama.
The ceremony was marked by the traditional dance of young girls and women, the performance of local masks and the music of “ballafonists”.

The Ambassador and the Mayor co-inaugurated the library and the librarian lead the visit through the new library, visited the local mask museum, and a traditional house of Boni.