Motorbikes bring treasured independence for women in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso the motorcycle has already has become a symbol of financial autonomy for many women since several decades ago. Photos: AFP

The motorcycles that buzz along the streets of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, have a story to tell.

Once the preserve of men and a sign of male status in this West African country, today they are used ubiquitously by women – and are a prized tool of emancipation.