A leader of the poor shouldnt live luxuriously while the people suffer. 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 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. Although his tenure in office was relatively short, sankara left an indelible mark on his countrys history and development. Pdf on may 5, 2016, kelvin degbotse and others published an analysis of thomas sankara a former president of burkina faso as a leader find. Thomas sankara president of burkina faso britannica. 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. The documents my blog thomas sankara official website.
His father, joseph sankara, a gendarme, was of mixed mossifulani silmimoaga heritage while his mother, marguerite kinda, was of direct mossi descent. A portrait composed of archives of thomas sankara, president of burkina faso between 1983 and his murder in 1987. On october 4th, 1984, thomas sankara addressed the general assembly of the united nations. We learn from thomas sankara that the leaders of the people must not live lifestyles which are parasitic on the people. 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.
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. Find highquality thomas sankara stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. A portrait comprised of material from the archives of thomas sankara, president of burkina faso from 1983 until his assassination in 1987. He held that position until 1987, when he was killed during another coup. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes. Words cannot express the loss weve felt, and the loss africa and the world suffered on that day. I the undersigned, hereby voluntarily, without any personal or business interest, have chosen out of my free will and without prejudice to serve the public as an elected representative of the people an employee in the public sector. Ghanaian authorities eventually jailed taylor twice for his increasingly subversive activities. 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. Thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. Biography of former burkina fasos president, thomas sankara. Sankaras roman catholic parents wanted him to be a.
There is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. Like fidel and che, sankara believed in the men and women so arrogantly dismissed by the rulers of the imperialist world. I would like to share with you some of thomas sankaras famous declarations. 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.
Sankara went into the highest office in burkina faso when he became president, but he didnt use it to enrich himself. As far as african leadership goes, thomas sankara was cut from a different piece of cloth. Sankara set ambitious goals to reduce poverty in burkina faso and championed. Hang your posters in dorms, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere blank walls arent welcome. Burkina faso opens graves to answer questions about thomas. Therefore, it is with deep nostalgia that i remember an iconic african revolutionary, a pragmatic visionary and an upright man, thomas isidore sankara, the former president of burkina faso. Lo uccisero e tentarono di cancellarne ogni memoria. Pdf a political biography of thomas sankara 19491987. The life and death of thomas sankara philosophy of shaving. Thomas sankara, military officer and proponent of panafricanism who was installed as president of upper volta later burkina faso in 1983 after a military coup. The thomas sankara oath black first land first blf. Pdf an analysis of thomas sankara a former president of. Some of thomas sankaras famous quotes african heritage.
It was a historical speech, as only he, the great orator, could speak. 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. A policeman prevents people from entering the dagnoen cemetery, ouagadougou as the bodies of people including thomas sankara. A must read biography of thomas sankara president of. Documentary about thomas sankara by robin shuffield. Through his desire to liberate his country and transform his fellow citizens way of thinking by questioning the world order and challenging the authority of those.
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