A Burkina Faso display of good health !

The art of advertising in Africa would definitely disconcert "creative spirit" in Western advertising agencies, experienced in techniques of manipulation and forever on the lookout for new subtle and shocking ideas, capable of touching a public left indifferent by thousands of advertising messages.

A passage through Ouagadougou would shock their common sense, advertising here is so spontaneous, fresh and forceful. Slogans are short and striking and never hide what they are : a form of communication aimed at modifying the economic or social behaviour of the Burkina Faso people.

In this domain, the government has elaborated a vast awareness campaign on health and medical risks, reflected on the walls of the capital via the multiplication of posters warning the population against sexually transmitted diseases and dangerous practices.

The most spectacular of these is probably the one warning against the buying of medicine in the street, generally out of date and which makes the patient's condition worse rather than better : the perfect slogan : "street pills kill !". Others encourage parents to vaccinate their young children, to always use a preservative or not to be afraid of the contraceptive pill. A great campaign of prevention aimed at the young people of Burkina Faso : the government wish them to remain "dynamic, prosperous and beautiful".

Again a slogan typical of the "country of upright men"…