On 12 April 2022, Officials of the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) handed the geographical indication registration certificate of the Saponé hat to the Sapone community. This makes the Saponé hat the first geographical indication in Burkina Faso.
If someone imports Saponé hat, it becomes counterfeit and the authorities could withdraw these products from sale. As you know, products that have authenticity are subject to a lot of illicit copying, and the protection aims to prevent illicit copying and preserve the market share of producers.
Denis Bohoussou, Director General OAPI.
Women are primarily responsible for weaving the hat. However, men provide the raw material for production: the raffia sudanica.
There is a whole production chain. There are those who bring the raw material, those who make the hats, those who tan the leather and those who apply the colors.
Abdoulaye Compaoré, Former Mayor of Saponé.
(c) Burkina 24 2022.
