https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241221/remembering-thomas-sankara-burkina-fasos-anti-imperialist-hero-1069832786.html
Remembering Thomas Sankara: Burkina Faso's Anti-Imperialist Hero
Remembering Thomas Sankara: Burkina Faso's Anti-Imperialist Hero
Sputnik Africa
Burkina Faso celebrates Thomas Sankara's 75th birthday anniversary on Saturday. 21.12.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-12-21T17:37+0100
2024-12-21T17:37+0100
2024-12-21T18:04+0100
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Sputnik Africa looks back at the life of a man considered a national hero who made anti-imperialism his struggle.Captain Sankara came to power in 1983 at the age of 33 and pursued a policy of national liberation and development. It was he who renamed the country, dropping the colonial name of Upper Volta to become the Land of Honest People, as Burkina Faso is also known.A communist and pan-Africanist, he launched a war against imperialism. He took surplus land from landlords and encouraged agricultural development.Thomas Sankara relied on the people, who readily responded to his calls to plant thousands of trees to combat the encroaching desert in the north of the country, or to build railways.He rejected all external help, convinced that "he who gives you food also dictates you the rules". He encouraged the people to buy African goods and wear traditional clothing.As a result of his economic and social policies, the country became self-sufficient in terms of food.Being close to ordinary people, Thomas Sankara travelled in a small car and his office was not air-conditioned. His salary as head of state was only 138,736 CFA francs (around $210).After his assassination by a former comrade in October 1987, his only possessions were an old Peugeot car bought before he came to power, a fridge, three guitars and four bicycles.
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burkina faso, west africa, history, anniversary, birthday, development, commemoration, thomas sankara, politics
burkina faso, west africa, history, anniversary, birthday, development, commemoration, thomas sankara, politics
Remembering Thomas Sankara: Burkina Faso's Anti-Imperialist Hero
17:37 21.12.2024 (Updated: 18:04 21.12.2024) Elizaveta Roschina
Writer/Editor
Burkina Faso celebrates Thomas Sankara's 75th birthday anniversary on Saturday.
Sputnik Africa looks back at the life of a man considered a national hero who made anti-imperialism his struggle.
Captain Sankara came to power in 1983 at the age of 33 and pursued a policy of national liberation and development. It was he who renamed the country, dropping the colonial name of Upper Volta to become the Land of Honest People, as Burkina Faso is also known.
A communist and pan-Africanist, he launched a war against imperialism. He took surplus land from landlords and encouraged agricultural development.
Thomas Sankara relied on the people, who readily responded to his calls to plant thousands of trees to combat the encroaching desert in the north of the country, or to build railways.
He rejected all external help, convinced that "he who gives you food also dictates you the rules". He encouraged the people to buy African goods and wear traditional clothing.
As a result of his economic and social policies, the country became self-sufficient in terms of food.
Being close to
ordinary people, Thomas Sankara travelled in a small car and his office was not air-conditioned. His salary as head of state was only 138,736 CFA francs (around $210).
After his assassination by a former comrade in October 1987, his only possessions were an old Peugeot car bought before he came to power, a fridge, three guitars and four bicycles.
