Ouagadougou: The organizers of the prestigious Sodaga d’Or 2025 announced during a press conference that the best artists will be celebrated on November 21 in the Burkinabe capital.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the third edition of the Sodaga d’Or aims to promote the artistic talents of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) under the theme “FDS, civilians, together for a culture of peace and hope in Burkina Faso.” This event marks the succession of artist gendarme Privat. For this edition, nine categories will be awarded, with works in competition produced between November 1, 2024, and September 10, 2025. The highest distinction, “Sodaga d’Or of the year,” features three nominated artists: Emos, Bark-biiga Mazou, and Fils du Moogho. The Organizing Committee emphasized that only artists with an album or maxi were selected.
Paulin Midiour, the promoter, stated that letters were sent to military and paramilitary entities and resource persons to compile the list of nominees. To ensure transparency and objectivity, the pre-selection phase was entrusted to professionals from each field, including music, sport, and visual arts. Each work is evaluated out of 10, and the marks are calculated to obtain an average score.
The organizers clarified that based on the criteria for the Sodaga d’Or, artist Privat, the winner of the last edition, is not included in the main category but is nominated in two other categories.
The event will feature several innovations, including new categories and the inclusion of artists from the AES (Burkina-Mali-Niger) to give it regional reach, along with digitalization and interaction, support for winners, and technical and scientific innovation. The Sodaga d’Or was established to honor artistic talent within the FDS, boost troop morale, and promote national unity through culture. The 2025 Sodaga d’Or will take place at the Le Rossignol complex in Ouagadougou.
The categories this year include the Golden Sodaga (highest distinction), Sodaga for revelation, best video, best collaboration, most played song in a disco, public choice, best visual artist, best song paying tribute to the FDS, and sportsman of the year.