An annual carnival in Upper Volta has again stimulated much interest among the spectators and intense competition among the teams taking part. In the Carnival of Dodo, dancing teams use their imaginations to evoke strange images.

SYNOPSIS: This team from Ouagadougou has wont he competition for four years in a row, and were defending their title.

The object is to use the most imaginative costumes, colours, movement and music to create animal characters, the kind that might be encountered in dreams... or nightmares.

The main contenders for the championship this year were from Ouagadougou, Tiedpalogho, Saddasgo and Samandin, strongly challenged by troupes from Bilgalogho and Dapoya. The origins of their performances are almost lost in history.

Dances like these are thought to have been brought to Upper Volta from a Nigerian tribal custom, although their true origins may have been in the Arab world.

Ouagadougou lost its title to a team from Dassasgo, who received the trophy from the Minister of Y??? and Sports, M. Sanon Dramane.