Why blaise compaore may be found guilty of thomas sankaras. Thomas sankara rose to power in burkina faso in a popularly supported coup in 1983. Frances president emmanuel macron has also promised to declassify secret french files about the circumstances of sankaras death, though this. I would like to situate my ideas within the geopolitical context of the popular uprisings that continue to take place around the world as people organise against neoliberal policies of advanced capitalism and. Biography of former burkina fasos president, thomas sankara. Thomas sankara s death certificate of 17 january 1988, stating that he died of natural causes contrary to the facts, which are public knowledge and confirmed by the state party paras.
In the former upper volta known today as burkina faso, a group of men decided to launch a revolution that would enable the country to accept the responsibility of its reality and its destiny. Thomas sankara is a charismatic revolution hero from burkina faso, the name he gave the country meaning land of upright man. In the former upper volta known today as burkina faso, a group of men decided to launch a revolution that would enable the country to accept the. He came to power at the age of 32 via a military coup to oust former. Thomas sankara recognized the pseudophilanthropy, the humanitarian effort for what it is in africa today. Thomas sankara, a marxist and panafricanist army officer, became president of what was then known as the republic of upper volta after a.
Thomas sankara and the assassination of africas memory. Thomas sankaras death certificate of 17 january 1988, stating that he died of natural causes contrary to the facts, which are public knowledge and confirmed by the state party paras. Burkina faso asks france to declassify military documents about expresident and marxist revolutionary thomas sankaras killing, a lawyer. That it is the same as debt is a cleverly managed reconquest of africa, which he said before the oau summit in 1987. The documents my blog thomas sankara official website.
Some of thomas sankaras famous quotes african heritage. Thomas sankara began by purging the deeply entrenched bureaucratic and institutional corruption in burkina faso. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Thomas isidore noel sankara was a burkinabe revolutionary and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. 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. In it, the viewer learns about what makes his time in office so memorable. Sankara was the first president of burkina faso, an authentic.
Dec 01, 1988 there is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. One response to thomas sankara, in his own words how imperialist aid blocks development in africa books of the month column printed below is an excerpt from we are heirs of the worlds revolutions, a collection of speeches by thomas sankara, leader of the burkina faso revolution. To me, thomas sankara is one of the most charismatic, selfless, dedicated, and beautiful african leaders of all times. He believed change must be creative, nonconformist indeed containing a certain amount of madness. Like fidel and che, sankara believed in the men and women so arrogantly dismissed by the rulers of the imperialist world. Its the international day for the elimination of violence against women today and in recognition of this dedicated day and the 16 consecutive international activist days, i am sharing quotes from one of the best speeches on womens liberation and the african freedom struggle by one of the most extraordinary leaders of modern history, former burkinabe president, thomas. The late burkinabe president thomas sankara an icon for many young africans in the 1980s still remains a heroic african che guevara to some. There is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. Sankara is the cause of vinnana, then vinnana causes sankara anna manna paticca samuppada how each objects connecting with each other there is an infant. Une jeunesse mobilisee est dangereuse, une jeunesse. Blf shall be hosting public screenings of the documentary, thomas sankara. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. Thomas sankara was a panafrican revolutionary, a staunch idealist who lived and ultimately died for his belief in the african continent.
Apr 19, 2010 one response to thomas sankara, in his own words how imperialist aid blocks development in africa books of the month column printed below is an excerpt from we are heirs of the worlds revolutions, a collection of speeches by thomas sankara, leader of the burkina faso revolution. Although his tenure in office was relatively short, sankara left an indelible mark on his countrys history and development. In his enlightened understanding of economics, he refused all but essential aid and encouraged instead for. The revolution and the emancipation of women pambazuka news. 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. Issued by the national coordinating committee of black first land first. Comrades, there is no true social revolution without the liberation of women.
Release thomas sankara documents, burkina faso tells france. I would like to situate my ideas within the geopolitical context of the popular uprisings that continue to take place around the world as. Viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure. A quarter century after the 15 october 1987 assassination of thomas sankara in a military coup, the late president of burkina faso remains a. Captain thomas sankara was the leader of the burkinabe revolution. Burkina faso unveils corrected thomas sankara statue bbc news. Le 15 octobre 1987 a ouagadougou, thomas sankara a ete assassine par blaise compaore, celui qui a pris le pouvoir a sa place. With thomas sankara died an experiment in radical reform that had raised the hopes of many in africa and even elsewhere. Why blaise compaore may be found guilty of thomas sankara. 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.
August 2, 2012 pambazuka news the life and work of thomas sankara can be taken as a reminder of both the power and potential for human agency to enact transformation. As far as african leadership goes, thomas sankara was cut from a different piece of cloth. 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. Oct 23, 20 15 october 1987 was the day africa lost one of his greatest sons. It would be difficult to find a less corrupt, selfserving leader than thomas sankara anywhere in the world. T wentyone years ago today, armed men burst into the office of thomas sankara, president of burkina faso, and murdered him and 12 of his. Ghanaian authorities eventually jailed taylor twice for his increasingly subversive activities. 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 solider who shunned violence, but was prepared to fight the neocolonial establishment, to build a strong, selfsufficient and independent africa. Thomas sankara born on december 21, 1949, in upper volta, formerly burkina faso.
Burkina faso opens graves to answer questions about thomas. Documentary about thomas sankara by robin shuffield. Jan 26, 20 thomas sankara is a charismatic revolution hero from burkina faso, the name he gave the country meaning land of upright man. His father, joseph sankara, a gendarme, was of mixed mossifulani silmimoaga heritage while his mother, marguerite kinda, was of direct mossi descent. Sankara reportedly became friends with blaise compaore when they met in morocco in 1976. Oct 15, 20 thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. 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.
Twentyeight years later, compaore, sankaras former comrade in arms would have an arrest warrant issued against him for involvement in the murder of a man billed as one of the greatest african leaders. Dec 24, 2015 thomas sankara was president for only 4 years, but he was known all around the world for his ambitious policies. 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 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. Burkithomas sankara na faso was the most recent attempt to find an independent path to national liberation without a revolu tionary war of the masses, without the leadership of a genuine proletar. Oct 14, 2012 today sankara is not well known outside africa his character and ideas simply dont fit with the notion of africa which has been constructed in the west over the last 30 years. In his short life, the charismatic military leader set about creating an. The first article i ever wrote on this blog was on thomas sankara, thomas sankara, the african che. 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. The life and work of thomas sankara can be taken as a reminder of both the power and potential for human agency to enact transformation. He spent his early years in gaoua, a town in the humid southwest to which. There was no explicit mention of thomas sankara, who used that phrase decades earlier to denounce an authoritarian. In 1987, on the 15th of october, thomas sankara would breathe his last during a coup that ironically saw the rise of his friend, blaise compaore. The death of thomas sankara and the rectification of the.
Sankara, as fidel so memorably said of che, did not think that man is an incorrigible little animal, capable of advancing only if you feed him grass db 10. Dubbed the african che guevara, thomas sankara led a revolution in the former upper volta, reinventing. I would like to share with you some of thomas sankaras famous declarations. Oct 15, 2008 t wentyone years ago today, armed men burst into the office of thomas sankara, president of burkina faso, and murdered him and 12 of his aides in a violent coup detat. Thomas sankara, political leader of burkina faso in the 1980s, was born on december 21, 1949 in yako, a northern town in the upper volta.
The curious case of thomas sankara and blaise compaore. Mariam sankara nee sereme, born 26 march 1954 is the widow of thomas sankara, the president of burkina faso previously named upper volta from 4 august 1983 until his assassination on 15 october 1987. They also both became part of a group known as the communist officers group. Mediated sankarism african studies quarterly university of florida. Thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. The upright man is a documentary by robin shuffield that describes his rise to power and his shortlived rule.
Words cannot express the loss weve felt, and the loss africa and the world suffered on that day. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Thomas sankara 19491987 is one of the most famous political figures in contemporary african. Under sankara s leadership, the revolutionary government of burkina faso in west africa set an electrifying example. Sankara, as fidel so memorably said of che, did not think that man is an incorrigible little animal, capable of advancing only if you feed him grass db 10 31082007 21.
Release thomas sankara documents, burkina faso tells. During this time she was first lady of the country. Thomas sankara quotes author of thomas sankara speaks. Find highquality thomas sankara stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Peasants, workers, women, and youth mobilized to carry out literacy and immunization drives. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes. Thomas sankara had great belief in people not just the people of burkina faso or africa, but people across the world.
Thomas sankara, the upright revolutionary african roots dw. He believed radical change would only come when people were convinced and active, not passive and conquered. Burkina faso wants france to release sankara archives bbc news. 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.
To symbolize this rebirth, he renamed his country from the french colonial upper volta to burkina faso, land of upright men and launched the most ambitious program for social and economic change ever attempted on the african continent. Join facebook to connect with thomas sankara and others you may know. Thomas sankara was president for only 4 years, but he was known all around the world for his ambitious policies. Oct 15, 2017 today marks the 30year anniversary of the death of thomas sankara, our african che.
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