Why is Thomas Sankara important?

Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara (French pronunciation: ​[tɔma sɑ̃kaʁa]; 21 December 1949 – 15 October 1987) was a Burkinabé military officer, Marxist revolutionary, and pan-Africanist President of Burkina Faso from his coup in 1983 to his deposition and murder in 1987.

Who took over from Thomas Sankara?

Blaise Compaoré
Among them is a man once known as his close friend, Blaise Compaoré, who went on to succeed Mr. Sankara as president — and stayed in power for 27 years.

When did Burkina Faso gain independence?

December 11, 1958
Burkina Faso/Founded

What did Sankara do for Burkina Faso?

Education was a key priority – while he was in power, the literacy rate increased from 13\% in 1983 to 73\% in 1987, and he also oversaw a massive national vaccination campaign. He also redistributed land from local chiefs and gave it directly to poor farmers, which led to a huge increase in cotton production.

What is a Sankara?

Saṅkhāra (Pali; सङ्खार; Sanskrit: संस्कार or saṃskāra) is a term figuring prominently in Buddhism. The word means ‘formations’ or ‘that which has been put together’ and ‘that which puts together’. According to the Vijnanavada school, there are 51 samskaras or mental factors.

How did Burkina Faso become a country?

On 5 August 1960, it attained full independence from France. The first president, Maurice Yaméogo, was the leader of the Voltaic Democratic Union (UDV). The 1960 constitution provided for election by universal suffrage of a president and a national assembly for five-year terms.

Did Thomas Sankara write a book?

Thomas Sankara speaks
Women’s Liberation and the African Freedom StruggleWe are Heirs of the World’s Revolutions: Speeches from the Burkina Faso Revolution, 1983-87Thomas Sankara1999 Preface to ‘the Changing Face of U. S. Politics Working-Class Politics and the Trade Unions’1999
Thomas Sankara/Books

Who is Lord Sankara?

Thomas Sankara (1949–1987), Marxist revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso (from 1983–1987) Sankara (2006 film), a 2006 film. Sankara, Burkina Faso, a village in Burkina Faso. Sankhara, mental formations in Buddhist philosophy.

Why is John Sankara important to African history?

Additionally, as an admirer of Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution, Sankara set up Cuban-style Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs). His revolutionary programs for African self-reliance made him an icon to many of Africa’s poor. Sankara remained popular with most of his country’s impoverished citizens.

How old was Sankara when he became president?

Aged 33, Sankara became the President of the Republic of Upper Volta. He immediately launched programmes for social, ecological, and economic change, and renamed the country from the French colonial Upper Volta to Burkina Faso (“Land of Incorruptible People”).

What can we learn from Sankara’s Burkina?

In Sankara’s Burkina, no one was above farm work, or graveling roads–not even the president, government ministers or army officers. Intellectual and civic education were systematically integrated with military training and soldiers were required to work in local community development projects.

What were Sankara’s foreign policies?

Aged 33, Sankara became the President of the Republic of Upper Volta. He immediately launched programmes for social, ecological, and economic change, and renamed the country from the French colonial Upper Volta to Burkina Faso (“Land of Incorruptible People”). His foreign policies were centred on anti-imperialism,…