On the occasion of Burkina Faso's national holiday, Sputnik Africa recollected five particularly interesting facts about the West African nation.
Although the holiday is celebrated in December, in reality, independence was acquired on August 5, 1960. But since August is the rainiest month of the year in Burkina Faso, the festivities always take place on December 11, which is also a significant date in the country's history: on this day in 1958, the Republic of Upper Volta, the territory's former name, gained independence under French protectorate.
In 1984, under Thomas Sankara's presidency, the country, still called Upper Volta, adopted the name of Burkina Faso. The name is a combination of two words from the country's two main languages: Burkina translates as "integrity, honor" in Moore and Faso as "territory, land or homeland" in Dioula. Put together, they mean "the homeland of honest men."
The country has more than 60 ethnic groups, each speaking its own language. Last week, the government announced its intention to amend the Constitution, by now designating indigenous languages as official languages in place of French.
Since the mid-2010s, Burkina Faso has been the victim of the extension of the actions of armed Islamist groups across the Sahel. This is why last year, in a particularly difficult security context, Captain Ibrahim Traore, the head of the transitional government, declared that the fight for independence is far from over.
"It is not time to celebrate, our independence is not acquired, because our lands are occupied, our economy is in its infancy and our hands are tied," the head of state said.
Traditionally, the day before the festival, the authorities reward Burkina Faso residents of all professions for their services to their homeland. This year, Ibrahim Traore awarded a total of 357 citizens.