Ruptly
"Born in Burkina Faso, trained in Cuba, and residing for over a decade in Montevideo, Blanche Kambou works as an economist, editor, and activist for Afro-descendant identity and against racism in Uruguay. Her story begins in West Africa but takes a decisive turn when she receives a scholarship to study in Cuba, a country she arrived in as a young woman and where she lived for six years. There, she learned Spanish and trained as an economist. During that period, she met the father of her daughters, with whom she later moved to Uruguay about 13 years ago. "I was born in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso is a country located in West Africa. It is a country that was a French colony. (...) One of the poorest countries in the world and in recent years has experienced quite strong political instability," said Kambou. In recent years, Burkina Faso has gone through severe political instability and grave social violence. The security situation is currently the country's main problem, attributed to armed groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State operating in the territory, leading to thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people. One of the most notorious incidents was the kidnapping of 66 women and girls in 2023. Settled in Montevideo, Kambou developed a multifaceted professional life. She works in the administrative sector while maintaining her vocation in culture, writing, and promoting diversity. One of her recent projects was editing a children's book created with two colleagues, presented at the 24th Montevideo Children's and Youth Book Fair, one of the country's most important cultural events, organized in the Uruguayan capital. "Today we are participating in the Book Fair with a theme that precisely addresses African culture through textile art," said Blanche Kambou. The work is part of a growing interest in expanding cultural representations in children's literature, incorporating diverse skin colors, traditions, and clothing from African culture in Latin America. This came after her arrival in Uruguay, where she said she couldn't find her place. "For a while, I felt a great lack of my identity, of that connection with which I identify, which is like my essence, as an African (...) But later I was able to meet other Afro-descendant groups and gradually reconnect with my roots, with my culture," said the writer. Beyond her professional work, Kambou also participates in initiatives related to Afro identity in Uruguay, highlighting the need to deepen recognition policies and combat racism. "We formed a collective called 'Afro Identity of Rivera,' which was a space where we met to precisely discuss the issues that concern us," added Kambou. Kambou's experience also reflects the multicultural character of Montevideo, a city that in the last decade has received migrants from different regions of the world and has consolidated cultural spaces like the Children's and Youth Book Fair, where authors, publishers, and educational projects converge. Since her arrival, the Burkinabe writer has built a path that combines economy, education, and culture, while promoting a broader view of Afro identity in Latin America."
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