A chocolatier in Burkina Faso and a creative makeup artist in Senegal have both found different ways to empower local people. Chef André Bayala in Burkina Faso was named Africa's best chocolatier in 2016 –a man who didn’t even know what chocolate was in his youth. For Chef André, chocolate is both a passion and a revolution. He takes inspiration for his ideals of self-reliance from Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara: “consume what you produce and produce what you consume.
In ‘Chocolate Revolution’ by filmmaker Michel K Zongo, he runs his two restaurants in Ouagadougou, making chocolate delicacies and pastries, determined that Africans should cultivate, enjoy and profit from its raw materials. He is committed to passing on his skills too, training the next generation of Burkinabe chocolatiers.
In Senegal, Fredde Tchibinda uses creative makeup as a powerful and imaginative way to portray strong African women. In ‘I See Beauty’ by filmmaker Ata Messan Koffi we observe her at work, in her studio and out in the streets of Dakar, designing and creating striking artistic portraits that enhance and celebrate women’s strength and confidence. Her subjects include eco-feminists and women protecting Dakar’s street children, and her portraits are built around the issues that concern African women, from the environment and rights to confidence-building. Her stunning creations offer a sense of power and optimism to the next generation.
