He was the leader of that countrys revolution from 1983 until 1987, when he was killed in a. The great october revolution brought victory to the. He was totally candid in conceding that material transformations in the lives of the people had not yet been completed. Our revolution in burkina faso draws on the totality of mans experiences since the first breath of humanity. Sankaras vision was perfectly aligned with the needs of large masses in burkina faso. He was one of the great african leaders who denounced imperialism and urged africans towards selfsufficiency. Viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution, he. Interview with jeanphilippe rapp 1985 in thomas sankara, thomas sankara speaks. Burkina faso recalls spirit of sankara as burkinabes celebrate the end of the military coup, musicians remember an old friendship that still shapes the countrys fate. New pamphlet of speeches by thomas sankara on revolution in burkina faso. Since its independence from france on 5 august 1960 to 15 october 1987, burkina faso, the land of the upright people, has experience five changes in. Thomas sankara was born thomas isidore noel sankara on 21 december 1949 in yako, french upper volta as the third of ten children to joseph and marguerite sankara. Thirtytwo page photo section features many unpublished photos of the burkina faso revolution. The leader of the burkina faso revolution recounts how peasants and workers in this west african country began confronting hunger.
Thomas sankara december 21, 1949 oct 15,1987 aka thom sank was the revolutionary leader of burkina faso land of the upright men formerly known as upper volta. His father, joseph sankara, a gendarme, was of mixed mossifulani silmimoaga heritage while his mother, marguerite kinda, was of direct mossi descent. In the five speeches contained in this pamphlet, he explains how the peasants and workers of this west african country established a popular revolutionary government and began to fight the hunger, illiteracy and economic backwardness imposed by imperialist domination, and the. The documents my blog thomas sankara official website. Thomas sankara had great belief in people not just the people of burkina faso or africa, but people across the world. This booklet by thomas sankara, the leader of burkina fasos popular. Thomas sankara was a military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, feminist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. Revolution in capital of burkina faso news authorstream. Thomas sankara speaks by thomas sankara all african books. Sankara made an impassioned plea for wearing the faso dan fani at the oau summit. Thomas sankara and the revolutionary birth of burkina faso. In the wake of the burkinabe 2014 popular revolution, however, which ousted sankaras. An african revolutionary ohio short histories of africa paperback november 1, 2014. Sankara speaks as an outstanding revolutionary leader of working people and youth the world over.
If sankara was still alive, burkinafaso would have been a rich country today. Thomas sankara speaks by thomas sankara pathfinder. He was all about a free aid independent burkinafaso. Oct 11, 2016 upon being met by a group of armed men in his own office on october 15, 1987, thomas sankara raised his arms in surrender. Official government reports from 1987 state that sankara had passed away from natural causes, but an autopsy performed in 2015 following the exhumation of his unmarked grave tells a different tale. It was a historical speech, as only he, the great orator, could speak. He believed change must be creative, nonconformist indeed containing a certain amount of madness. Under sankara s leadership, the revolutionary government of burkina faso in west africa set an electrifying example. Oct 14, 2012 thomas sankara had great belief in people not just the people of burkina faso or africa, but people across the world.
Burkina faso president thomas sankara, who between 1983 to 1987. The great october revolution brought victory to the proletariat and made possible the realization of the paris communes dreams of justice. The burkina faso revolution 198387 thomas sankara on. We are heirs of the worlds revolutions new pamphlet of speeches by thomas sankara on revolution in burkina faso.
Also speaking on the panel were manuel agramonte, cubas ambassador to burkina faso during the four years of the revolutionary government led by. A marxistleninist and panafricanist, he was viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution and is sometimes referred to as africas che guevara. Collections of sankaras speeches, published posthumously, include thomas sankara speaks. Printed below is the preface and an excerpt from the newly published we are heirs of the worlds revolutions, a collection of speeches by thomas sankara, a leader of the burkina faso revolution in the 1980s. Second edition includes a new introduction by editor michel prairie, foreword, maps, chronology and glossary, as well as an index. Thomas sankara led the revolution of 1983 to 1987 in burkina faso. The murder charges relating to sankaras death are in addition to the charges that he faces in relation to the defeated right. Oct 02, 2015 our revolution in burkina faso embraces misfortunes of all peoples.
The most common commercial crop is thomas sankara was born in northern french upper volta in the year into a family that allowed him greater educational opportunities, and a chance to seek the benefits of a career in the military. Mediated sankarism african studies quarterly university of florida. Thomas sankara and the revolution in burkina faso history. Thomas sankara began by purging the deeply entrenched bureaucratic and institutional corruption in burkina faso.
We wish to be the heirs of all the worlds revolutions and all the liberation struggles of the peoples of the third world. Living free also means to avoid the pitfalls and humiliations of the supposed development aid which has contributed to the underdevelopment of africa and its dependency. In march1985 sankara gave an interview with the news magazine, intercontinental press, in which he evaluated a year and half of revolution in burkina faso. In the years following sankaras assassination, by his once trusted friend blaise compaore who runs burkina faso to this day, his revolution was overturned and the country became just. Peasants, workers, women, and youth mobilized to carry out literacy and immunization drives. Pdf thomas sankara was the leader of a junta of young military officers who took power in upper volta in. Thomas sankara and the black spring in burkina faso a. Alioune zanre, a commissioner of the tribunal told journalists that others would also face trial in. The fall of captain sankara, or why you cant make revolution without the masses his chest riddled with bullets, his kalashnikov lying a few feet away in the dry dust of ouagadougou, the captain of the burkina faso revolution, thomas sankara, was cut down in a palace coup on october 15, 1987. Sep 28, 20 interview from swedish television of thomas sankara 19491987, thenpresident of burkina faso.
It was his way of encouraging people to produce and consume local goods. Burkina faso opens graves to answer questions about thomas. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Thomas sankara, october 1984 thomas sankara led the revolution of 1983 to 1987 in burkina faso. Burkina faso has been reliving mixed memories this week of slain former leader thomas sankara, a charismatic marxist revolutionary who gained a reputation as africas che guevara. Thomas sankara speaks the burkina faso revolution 198387. Gnaka lagoke, an expert in african politics and the founder of the revival of panafricanism forum, on 17 november 2014.
In this collection of speeches and interviews, sankara explains how during those years the peasants and workers of burkina faso. Thomas sankara president of burkina faso britannica. He was the leader of that countrys revolution from 1983 until. Thomas sankaras legacy, exclusive interview with hon. Revisiting thomas sankara, 26 years later pambazuka news. It also draws inspiration from all of mans experiences since his first breath. Upper volta decided not to go, and burkina faso has upheld that decision not because there is not much hope. The event was organized as part of the annual havana international book fair. On 15 october 1987 a revolution was brought to an abrupt and bloody end by the murder of thomas sankara, president of the newly named state of burkina faso.
Thomas sankara, the revolutionary leader of the west african nation burkina faso from 1983 to 1987, was killed in the belief that it could extinguish the example he set for african youth and progressive forces across the continent. Compaores coup brought an end to the magnificent burkina faso revolution of 198387. Thomas sankara 19491987 is one of the most famous political figures in contemporary african. Viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution, he is commonly referred to as africas che guevara. A history of power, protest, and revolution english edition.
Thomas sankara and the burkinabe womens liberation movement. Interview from swedish television of thomas sankara 19491987, thenpresident of burkina faso. Thomas sankara speaks pathfinder press, 2007, 447 pages the life of the great african hero thomas sankara this is a compilation of some of the great speeches made by the great african hero, the burkina faso president thomas sankara, who between 1983 to 1987 led one of the great african revolutionary governments. Speeches from the burkina faso revolution, 198387, 2nd ed.
Thomas isidore noel sankara was a burkinabe military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, feminist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. Compiled by mwalimu george ngwane today 15th october 2010 marks the 23rd anniversary of the murder of captain thomas isidore noel sankara, erstwhile president of. From upper volta to burkina faso, is the study of the politics of reaction and reform in a postcolonial nationstate of burkina faso. Facts about thomas sankara in burkina faso my blog. Under sankaras leadership, the revolutionary government of burkina faso in west africa set an electrifying example. He believed radical change would only come when people were convinced and active, not passive and conquered. Also speaking on the panel were manuel agramonte, cubas ambassador to burkina faso during the four years of the revolution ary government led by thomas sankara. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. Burkina faso salutes africas che thomas sankara reuters. Che, sankara insisted, was a citizen of the free world the free.
Compaore led his men to take over key parts of ouagadougou, the capital. Perhaps, more than any other african president in living memory, thomas sankara, in four years, transformed burkina faso from a poor country, dependent on aid, to an economically independent and socially progressive nation. Nov 05, 2014 compaore was the leader of a counterrevolution, a traitor, who holds the responsibility for the murder of one of the finest thinkers and fighters of the twentieth century, thomas sankara. In 1983, 23 years after its independence and the succession of several neocolonial regimes, the upper volta was one of the most materially destitute countries in the world. He slashed the salaries of ministers and sold off the fleet of exotic cars in the presidents convoy, opting instead for the cheapest brand of car available in burkina faso, renault 5. Thomas sankara led the revolution that took place in the west african country burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. Viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution, he is commonly referred to as africas che guevara and believed in africas selfreliance.
On october 4th, 1984, thomas sankara addressed the general assembly of the united nations. Biography of former burkina fasos president, thomas sankara. We wish to be the heirs of all the revolutions of the world, of all the liberation struggles of the peoples of the third world. Several members of his military entourage and advi. Thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. The burkina faso revolution 19831987 1988, reprinted 2001, womens liberation and the african freedom struggle, 2nd ed. The former president of burkina faso, president blaise compaore will go on trial in november over the alleged assassination of former president thomas sankara. Dec 01, 1988 the betrayal of thomas sankara, of burkina faso, of all the revolutionary burkinabe, has left a lasting imprint on the world, but primarily on africa and the thomas sankaras words finally condensed into a single book that starts even before the burkina faso revolution, and ends a week before his murder in a coup detat organized by the. Thomas sankara, often called the african che guevara, was president of burkina faso, one of the poorest countries in africa, until his assassination during the military coup that brought down his government. After renaming his country to burkina faso, heres thomas sankaras accomplishments, only 4 years in power 198387. Sankara was a revolutionary to the core, he specifically adhered to the concept of faso dan fani which revolves around wearing clothes made in burkina faso. Thomas sankara and the burkinabe womens liberation. Our eyes are on the profound upheavals that have transformed the world. Was thomas sankara a good president for burkina faso.
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