On 1 February 1969, the first African film festival of Ouagadougou opened in the Republic of Upper Volta, now known as Burkina Faso.

In 1972, the event was made into an official institution by government decree.

It became known as the Pan-African film festival of Ouagadougou - Fespaco for short.

It is Africa's largest film festival and is held every two years. Alimata Salembéré was President of the organising committee who put together the first event.

She tells Jen Dale how it all came about.

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(Photo: Fespaco. Credit: Luc Gnago/Reuters)