Biography

Soulama Maténé Martine was born on 4 March 1974 in Toundoura, in the region known as “the Waterfalls” in south-western Burkina Faso.

She found her artistic path first by attending cultural associations promoted by Catholic organisations, then by developing it professionally in the different disciplines that allow her to live her artistic life today. In the field of music, she’s an author, performer and composer, but is also known as a playwright, actress and writer. As part of the Women’s Cultural Association “The Amazons of Santa”, of which she’s general secretary, she makes the traditional “pagne”, a loincloth from the Kokokunda tradition, and bracelets made from local materials. Her favourite instrument is the n’goni, with which she plays her compositions.

Maténé Martine, aka Téné Tina, is involved in the arts, culture and social commitment in defence of women. She is Commissioner General of the FARENI “Arts et Enfance” Festival in Niangoloko, which works for early childhood education.
President of the Association of Musicians of Niangoloko, member of the organising committee of the Festival “La Thérapie de l’Art”, she’s a cerma language literacy graduate.

Motivation Prize

Téné Tina is a committed writer. She combines culture, tradition and modernity to give her writing a unifying character. Most of her texts defend the causes of rural women and young girls and strongly denounce violence against them. Topics such as forced marriages, excision, the lack of schooling for girls, the stigmatisation of women, marital violence, are at the heart of her writing and the essence of her inspiration.

She decided to write in cerma, her mother tongue, because in this language she feels more comfortable and can make herself understood. Very involved in promoting mother tongues, she organises conversations-debates and encourages children to express themselves in their mother tongue. Conversations and debates are conducted within the framework of the Women’s Cultural Association “The Amazons of Santa”.

In French-speaking African countries, writing in the mother tongue remains a challenge, the legacy of colonialism has left strong traces. The language of the colonisers dispossessed the peoples of their mother tongues out of an illegitimate prejudice of inferiority. Today, mother tongues claim their status in the practices of what the Occident calls “Culture”.

Téné Tina has also excelled in other disciplines: she’s a playwright, actress and musician, mastering singing and several instruments.

The Ostana International Prize is awarded to her in recognition of her dedication to defending women’s rights and promoting mother tongues. It’s hoped that this international recognition will help her reach an ever wider audience in her fight for the elimination of all violence and discrimination.