After renaming his country to burkina faso, heres thomas sankaras accomplishments, only 4 years in power 198387. 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. A retrospective comparison of jerry rawlings and thomas sankara. Was thomas sankara a good president for burkina faso. Under sankaras leadership, the revolutionary government of burkina faso in west africa set an electrifying example. Sankara was the first president of burkina faso, an authentic revolutionary who managed in just four years to transform his society and his homeland in a way it is doubtful most would believe to be possible if told, before his assassination in 1987 and the destruction of his revolution by his. We learn from thomas sankara that the leaders of the people must not live lifestyles which are parasitic on the people. Captain thomas sankara, formerly prime minister, seized control of the government of the republic of upper volta on august 4. Captain thomas sankara, formerly prime minister, seized control of the government of the republic of upper volta on august 4, 1983, and exactly a year later introduced his program for revitalizing the land. Thomas sankara discours au sommet d addis abeba le 29.
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. Several members of his military entourage and advi. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. The late burkinabe president thomas sankara an icon for many young. Envoi moi video thomas sankara dernier discour repondre a. 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.
The jacana pocket series is is meant for those who are looking for a brief but lively introduction to a wide range of topics on african history, politics and biography. Julius malemas economic freedom fighters have invoked the legacy of former burkina faso president thomas sankara as a model of governance they apparently wish to emulate. Sankara was the first president of burkina faso, an authentic revolutionary who managed in just four years to transform his society and his homeland in a way it is doubtful most would believe to be possible if told, before his assassination in 1987 and the destruction of his. Nov 05, 20 julius malemas economic freedom fighters have invoked the legacy of former burkina faso president thomas sankara as a model of governance they apparently wish to emulate. Black first land first blf calls on everyone, especially those engaging in revolutionary struggle and aspiring for political office to follow the example of the great burkina faso leader, thomas sankara. It was a historical speech, as only he, the great orator, could speak.
Sankara is widely viewed as an african political hero. Comrades, there is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. He was all about a freeaid independent burkinafaso. A leader of the poor shouldnt live luxuriously while the people suffer. 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.
Al jazeera reported that many young protesters were inspired by the spirit of africas che guevara, while the paris daily le monde declared compaores overthrow the revenge of thomas sankaras children. Thomas sankaras politics and legacy in movements for social justice abstracts are invited for contributions to a forthcoming edited volume that aims to bring forward the different ways in which activists, theorists and writers in and beyond africa have engaged. The approximate timing of his appearance in the country coincided with the assassination of president thomas sankara, the charismatic revolutionary leader of burkina faso, on 15 october 1987. His father, joseph sankara, a gendarme, was of mixed mossifulani silmimoaga heritage while his mother, marguerite kinda, was of direct mossi descent. Le 15 octobre 1987 a ouagadougou, thomas sankara a ete assassine par blaise compaore, celui qui a pris le pouvoir a sa place. Hundreds of demonstrators in burkina faso marked the 30th anniversary of thomas sankara s assassination by demanding truth and justice on.
Mariam sankara nov 04, 2014 in this short but bold message to mark 27 years since the assassination of revolutionary president thomas sankara on october 15, his widow outlines some of the challenges facing burkinabes under the failed compaore regime and urges continued resistance. Deze zogenaamde revolutie was een monsterverbond van conservatieve en progressieve militairen. Thomas sankara began by purging the deeply entrenched bureaucratic and institutional corruption in burkina faso. Discours dorientation politique thomas sankara 2 octobre 1983.
A policeman prevents people from entering the dagnoen cemetery, ouagadougou as the bodies of people including thomas sankara. Thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. Demo demands justice for slain burkina leader sankara. Apr 30, 2014 the late burkinabe president thomas sankara an icon for many young africans in the 1980s still remains a heroic african che guevara to some 27 years after his assassination at the age of. This booklet by thomas sankara, the leader of burkina fasos popular revolutionary government from 1983 to 1987, was published by pathfinder press in french and then english some three years ago. Thomas isidore noel sankara 21 december 1949 15 october 1987 was a burkinabe military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. Two weeks after compaore fled the country, a transitional government was formed to organize new elections by october 2015. Hundreds of demonstrators in burkina faso marked the 30th anniversary of thomas sankaras assassination by. Ghanaian authorities eventually jailed taylor twice for his increasingly subversive activities. There is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. Chris hani, thomas sankara, patrice lumumba and haile selassie. May 25, 2015 a policeman prevents people from entering the dagnoen cemetery, ouagadougou as the bodies of people including thomas sankara, the burkina faso revolutionary leader, are exhumed. Biography of former burkina fasos president, thomas sankara. Thomas sankara quotes author of thomas sankara speaks.
Ideology and praxis in thomas sankaras populist revolution of 4 august 1983 in btrkina faso guy martin this article is an inquiry into the origins, the ideological basis, political and economic organization and. Mariam sankara nov 04, 2014 in this short but bold message to mark 27 years since the assassination of revolutionary president thomas sankara on october 15, his widow outlines some of the challenges facing burkinabes under the. Thomas sankara and the assassination of africas memory. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.
The burkina faso revolution 1983 87 thomas sankara on. Sankara clearly did have misgivings about a simple merger of the existing groups. Dec 01, 1988 there is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. Join facebook to connect with thomas sankara and others you may know. 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. Assistant professor, department of interdisciplinary arts and sciences. If sankara was still alive, burkinafaso would have been a rich country today. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt. Sankara article about sankara by the free dictionary. Peasants, workers, women, and youth mobilized to carry out literacy and immunization drives. There was no explicit mention of thomas sankara, who used that phrase decades. Thomas sankaras speech at the united nations discours.
Thomas sankara was the leader of a junta of young military officers who took power in upper volta in 1983, ending a threeyear interregnum that followed the overthrow of sangoule lamizana. Burkina faso opens graves to answer questions about thomas. On october 4th, 1984, thomas sankara addressed the general assembly of the united nations. Oct 15, 20 thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. The late burkinabe president thomas sankara an icon for many young africans in the 1980s still remains a heroic african che guevara to some. Oct 15, 2018 sankara went into the highest office in burkina faso when he became president, but he didnt use it to enrich himself. Facts about thomas sankara in burkina faso africa facts. Thomas isidore noel sankara 21 december 1949 15 october 1987 wis a burkinabe militar captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, an preses o burkina faso frae 1983 tae 1987. Written by some of the leading experts in their fields. 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. Thomas isidore noel sankara 19491987 was a burkinabe military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987.
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