Burkina Faso

Did you know?

• 💰A fascinating landlocked nation in West Africa. The country is widely celebrated for its rich cultural identity, vibrant arts, and the powerful legacy of late-20th-century social reforms.
• 🏳️The national flag of Burkina Faso was officially adopted in 1984 during the socialist revolution led by Thomas Sankara, replacing the former flag of Upper Volta. The red stripe on top represents the socialist revolution and the blood shed by martyrs and patriots during their struggle for independence. The green stripe on the bottom symbolizes hope, agricultural abundance, lush forests and the country's natural wealth. The golden five-pointed star set dead center represents the guiding light of the revolution, national unity and the path toward a prosperous future.
• 🇧🇫The land of honest people — the country's name was coined in 1984 by blending words from two of its most spoken indigenous languages. Burkina means 'honest' or 'upright' in the Mooré language, while Faso translates to 'homeland' in Dioula. Together, they form 'The Land of Honest (Upright) People'.
• ✊The 'African Che Guevara' — the nation's legendary leader, Thomas Sankara, remains one of the most iconic and selfless figures in African history. During his presidency (1983–1987) he shunned personal luxury, limited government officials to cheap cars, successfully vaccinated over 2.5 million children, outlawed polygamy and planted over 10 million trees to halt the desertification of the Sahel.
• 🎬The capital of African cinema — the capital city Ouagadougou hosts FESPACO, the largest and most prestigious film festival in Africa, founded in 1969. Every two years it transforms the city into the global epicenter for African filmmakers, screenwriters and cinema enthusiasts.