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Ibrahim Traore Burkina Faso beauty pageant reforms

Ibrahim Traore has just sparked a very interesting debate about how Africa celebrates its young women, and I want to know what you think.
A few months ago, Burkina Faso suspended beauty pageants across the country, and now, under Traore’s leadership, the country has introduced a very different kind of competition.
Instead of judging young women on their physical appearance, this competition celebrates their intelligence.

It’s called Hakili Muso, and 84 young women competed in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

The top performers received cash prizes, laptops, motorcycles, and scholarships. And all 84 finalists were promised support for their university education.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. The government says the beauty pageants will eventually return, but in a different format that emphasizes the country’s cultural values.
And that has sparked an interesting debate.

Should African countries be putting more emphasis on celebrating intelligence, innovation, and academic achievement rather than physical beauty? Or is this creating a false choice?
After all, a woman can be beautiful, brilliant, and successful in whatever field she chooses. And shouldn’t we be celebrating all of that?
My people, I’m curious. What do you make of this decision? Should more African countries follow this approach, or should beauty pageants and science competitions simply coexist?

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