In pictures: Africa's Oscars

Africa's biggest film festival, Fespaco, is rolling in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, a city synonymous with African celluloid.

Hundreds of actors, directors and lovers of African cinema have gathered for the 20th edition of the biennial event which ends of Sunday.

And tens of thousands of Burkinabes filled Ouagadougou's stadium for the opening which was accompanied by fireworks, fun and frolics.

There was traditional performance by Burkinabe artistes and their counterparts from Tahiti and Mali. The ceremony was full of pump and pageantry.

The whole of Ouagadougou becomes engrossed in Fespaco. Here children watch a free film showing in one of the power suburbs of the capital.

More than 200 films are being shown during the eight-day festival, among them 18 in contention for the coveted Yennenga Stallion prize for the best feature film.

Among the contenders for the award is Rwandan filmmaker Jacqueline Kalimunda with Homeland, which has been billed as the first Rwandan film about Rwanda.

Common themes have been tradition and modernity and Africa and the West. Africa Paradis sees a time when Europeans will want to migrate to Africa. [Text: BBC's Umaru Fofana]

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