Ouagadougou: The ceremony marking the transition to the year 6262 of the Kamit calendar took place on July 19 at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, as part of the Sankoré Universities initiative. This 10th edition was organized by the Two Hours for Kamita initiative and centered on the theme: “Federal State, Political and Ideological Unity in the AES Confederal Space: Challenges and Perspectives.”
According to Burkina Information Agency, Kamit leader Bayala Lianhoué Imhotep highlighted the historical and geopolitical significance of the African calendar during the event, attended by intellectuals, young pan-African activists, and representatives of the Burkinabe state. “The Kamit New Year is not just a change of date. It is an act of remembrance, an act of resistance, and an affirmation of our cultural sovereignty,” he stated. He emphasized that the 6,262-year-old calendar, with its unique structure of seasons and ten-day week, reflects the antiquity of African civilizations in human history.
The celebration was h
eld under the high patronage of the Burkinabe Prime Minister, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, represented by the Minister in charge of Culture, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo. In his message, the head of government paid tribute to the peoples of the Sahel, who stand as defenders of sovereignty through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). He encouraged young people to draw inspiration from this confederal momentum to develop an African governance model rooted in the continent’s historical and socio-cultural realities.
The Prime Minister also emphasized that “the Kamit calendar, invented in 4236 BC, is considered the most intelligent in human history,” urging Africans to reconnect with their ancestral landmarks to assert their place in a multipolar world. Guests of honor at the ceremony, including the Minister of Secondary Education, Dr. Boubakar Savadogo, and Titiana Kayé, a designated Living Human Treasure, praised the Two Hours for Kamita initiative for its efforts in rehabilitating African cultural heritage.
Throug
hout the week of July 14-19, 2025, various panels, conferences, and workshops focused on issues of sovereignty, endogenous development, regional integration, and historical memory. The event received support from several ministries, institutional partners, and media outlets. Organizers expressed hope that the Kamit New Year celebration would become a permanent fixture on Burkina Faso’s cultural agenda and a source of identity for African peoples striving for emancipation.