Join a late-night party
Get your boogie shoes ready: The festival schedules "Local Dances" each night from 10 pm until 3 am. Follow the crowd, join the circle or conga line, and bust your best moves. Anything goes at the impromptu sessions – except sitting on the sidelines, of course.
Eat like a local
You'll need to keep up your energy for the wee-hour festivities. Luckily, the local restaurants and markets can help. Try kedjenou (slow-cooked chicken with peppers and tomatoes) or a bowl of spicy ground nut stew. Or tear into a plate of poulet bicyclette (grilled wild chicken).
Peruse the craft market
It's your one-stop shop for a monkey mask or other unique souvenir.
Getting There
Dédougou (population 39,000) is 230 kilometers west of Ougadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, where the main airport is located. Bus companies LTI and EDBAF make the five-hour trip between cities daily for about $8.
Lodging
The city has a handful of hotels and church-based lodgings, or you can stay with a local family. The most expensive rooms, with air conditioning, cost around $32. The festival website has contact information; festival organizers can also arrange bookings.
Travel Advisories
Check with your consulate before departing. While Dédougou and Ougadougou are considered safe, Burkina Faso's northern region — especially the part bordering Mali — has areas of unrest.