On March 1, 2025, Burkinabè filmmaker Dani Kouyaté was awarded the prestigious Étalon d’or de Yennenga (Golden Stallion of Yennenga) at the 29th Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO). His film, Katanga, la danse des scorpions, captivated the jury with its profound narrative and cultural depth, marking Burkina Faso’s first Étalon d’or in 28 years.  
Katanga, la danse des scorpions is a cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, set within an African context and performed in the Mooré language. The film delves into the complexities of power through the story of Katanga, a military leader who, after betraying and murdering his king, ascends to the throne and spirals into violence and paranoia. 
The FESPACO jury praised the film for its “timeless and universal theme,” as well as its strong cultural grounding, evident in its settings, costumes, and linguistic authenticity. Beyond the Étalon d’or, Katanga, la danse des scorpions garnered several other accolades, including the Public Prize with an average score of 9.18/10, the Sembène Ousmane Prize from the Ecobank Foundation, the Special Prize from the Cultural and Tourism Development Fund (FDCT), the Special UEMOA Prize for feature fiction, and the Paulin Soumanou Vieyra African Critics’ Prize. 
This remarkable achievement by Dani Kouyaté underscores the vitality and richness of Burkinabè cinema, reaffirming its significant presence on the international stage. FESPACO, as a showcase of African cinema, celebrates this victory, which honors both Burkina Faso and the entire continent.