The country was once ruled by france, but it has been independent since 1960. The information regarding burkina faso on this page is republished from the 2020 world fact book of the united states central intelligence agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of burkina faso 2020 information contained here. Burkina faso finds itself at the heart of the current sahelian crisis, while simultaneously navigating its own revolutionary democratic transition. Most farmers here operate at a subsistence level, and thus remain vulnerable to changes in rainfall flooding and droughts. Burkina faso governance, economy political history since its independence on 5august 1960, the political scene has been characterized by the succession of constitutional regimes and emergency laws resulting from military coups detat. A history of power, protest and revolution is rich with detail of burkinabe society and the complex relationships of power, patronage and social class. A unique, indepth political history of burkina faso, centred on the incredible events of. Burkina faso s national parks include po in the southcentre of the country, arly in the southeast, and w in the east, straddling the border with benin and niger. Under french colonization, burkina faso became a main labor source for agricultural and factory work in cote divoire. In the years after independence in 1960, following the dissolution of french west africa, upper volta goes through many abrupt changes including five military coups in 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987 and a change in the nations name, in 1984, to burkina faso. Historical dictionary of burkina faso, third edition 9780810880108.
Burkina faso is a landlocked country in western africa that borders benin, cote divoire, ghana, mali, niger, and togo. Read history and culture, republic of burkina faso national economy of burkina faso, ethnic relations and history, religion, cultural differences, government and leadership. Samuel decalos bibliography on burkina faso published by clio press in 1994. This isnt a book to censor history or try to put a pretty spin on things, but it also doesnt get explicit regularly or without reason. Taking us from independence to the 2014 popular revolution, this brilliant book enriches our understanding of both revolutions and african history. Thomas sankara president of burkina faso britannica. The army has run the country for most of its postcolonial history and has instilled in the.
Burkina faso history, language and culture history of burkina faso. As a reporter with 30 years of experience working in the region, ernest harschs burkina faso. The mossi people of burkina faso have a rich and complex history that is mirrored. Burkina faso 602 km, cote divoire 720 km, togo 1098 km coastline. A virtual guide to burkina faso, the land of the uprighthonest people. It is a superb introduction to this small, landlocked country in the sahel region, covering the precolonial era, the era of french colonization, and the postcolonial period, culminating in a popular uprising in 2014 that forced out the countrys longtime dictator, blaise compaore. African home for art and craft, festival of art in burkina faso jerry, sampson, jones, anderson, koumana, morgan, tinge, simion, odinga, maklele on. Burkina faso history, language and culture world travel guide. Burkina faso simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Despite its food shortages and high poverty rate, burkina faso has become a destination for refugees in recent years and hosts about 33,500 malians as of may 2017. Harsch ends the book on a note of tempered optimism. It used to be called upper volta and the name was changed to burkina faso in 1984. Burkina faso, landlocked country in western africa. The loropeni ruins was the first unesco world heritage site to be inscribed in burkina faso in 2009. Muslimmajority burkina faso has been hit by a wave of violence by militant islamists in recent years. Burkina faso struggles against covid19 and extremist threat. Sankaras roman catholic parents wanted him to be a priest. A history of power, protest and revolution, harsch the chicago distribution center is temporarily closed. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Haute volta is a landlocked country located in the middle of west africas hump.
The climax of the novel is set in burkina faso, which means land of incorruptible people, but as maries adventures attest, no one and nothing is ever quite that pure. Education in west africa is a comprehensive critical reference guide to education in the region. The history of burkina faso includes the history of various kingdoms within the country, such as the mossi kingdoms, as well as the later french colonisation of the territory and its independence as the republic of upper volta in 1960. Burkina faso buhrkeenuh fahsoe, literally land of upright men, is a country of west africa without access to the sea. Burkina faso borders the republic of ivory coast to the southwest, the republic of benin to the southeast, the republic of mali to the north and the republics of ghana and togo to. Books set in burkina faso fiction and nonfiction books set completely or at least partially in burkina faso. The northwestern part of presentday burkina faso was populated by huntergatherers from 14000 bc to 5000 bc.
Burkina faso was once a part of the great mossi empire, one of the strongest of ancient african kingdoms. A history of power, protest and revolution harsch, ernest on. The site is a cultural landmark in burkina faso and represents the former affluence of medieval kingdoms during the transsaharan trade. About 80% of the working population relies on agriculture and livestock rearing to make their living. Yennenga early 12th century, burkina faso ghana an unbeatable warrior princess who just wanted to have kids and founded a new nation in her quest to do so. Burkina faso history and culture, art and craft, an impact on tourism. Burkina faso upper volta country profile nations online. Foreign couple kidnapped in burkina faso in 2018 found alive a canadian woman and her italian partner have. We wont eradicate fgm if we keep misunderstanding its history. Burkina faso, previously known as upper volta, was once part of french west africa since 1896 until 1960. Burkina faso history, west african history, books barnes. The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to burkina faso. A history of power, protest, and revolution and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Aaron lear surveys the history, topography, people, and culture of burkina faso, with an emphasis on the current economy, industry, and place in the political world.
The mossi empire was still in place when the whole region was annexed by the french in 1896. 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 mossi, who now make up almost half of burkina fasos population, founded their first kingdom more than 500 years ago in ouagadougou. The capital is ouagadougou in 2005, about,228,000 people lived in the country. In october 2014, huge protests across burkina faso succeeded in overthr. Laura seay, colby college burkina faso finds itself at the heart of the current sahelian crisis, while simultaneously navigating its own revolutionary democratic transition. Harschs is the first englishlanguage political history of burkina faso to appear in many years. This books shows how the 2014 uprising was both a remarkable and original episode in the countrys long tradition of protests and political inventiveness. The history of burkina faso is dominated by its largest ethnic group, the mossi peoples. Most people living in the countrys urban areas are multilingual, while the rural population uses their native languages for common activities. Harschs insightful and lively account offers keen insights into the political history of a fascinatingyet unfortunately understudiedcountry. Burkina faso is thus identified as the country of the free men. The comic book history of animation by evil twin comics.
Seeley, cathy pcv in burkina faso hundreds of photos, information, and essays about burkina faso, west africa and cathy seeleys peace corps service as a secondary mathematics teacher from 1999 to 2001. For more books about this country and others, see the around the world in 80 days group. Scroll down to browse childrens books about burkina faso. Until the end of the 19th century, the history of burkina faso was dominated by the empirebuilding mossi, who are believed to have come from central or eastern africa sometime in the 11th century. The mossi founded powerful kingdoms in the volta river basin from the 14th century onward, and controlled the region through their mastery of the war horse. Mar 21, 2011 burkina faso is a small, poor, landlocked country in west africa. Ernest harsch in october 2014, huge protests across burkina faso succeeded in overthrowing the longentrenched regime of their authoritarian ruler, blasie compaore.
Mossi is the most widely spoken language of burkina faso, as it is spoken by nearly 40% of the countrys population. The northern part lies geographically in the sahel zone, the transition zone between the sahara desert in north and the tropical savanna in south. Like all of the west of africa, burkina faso was populated early, notably by huntergatherers in the northwestern part of the country 12,000 to 5000 bc, and whose tools scrapers, chisels and arrowheads were discovered in 1973. Hana sandhu says this book is a gripping account of the countrys radical history of political struggle. Burkina faso is a landlocked country lying in the semiarid sahel and savanna zones of africa. The geography of burkina faso is mostly flat savanna with access to three principal rivers. The mossi people of burkina faso have a rich and complex history that is mirrored by the several types and styles of figures and masks they create.
Various measures have been taken to counter the negative effects, with some providing better results than others. History of burkina faso precolonial era download ebook. On the face of it you can see why burkina faso lacks mainstream appeal. The man who stopped a desert using ancient farming. Around 20 dead in burkina faso as jihadist violence spreads across region.
Particular attention is paid to the revolutionary years 198387 under thomas sankara, whom the author interviewed several times, and the burkinabe uprising in 2014 that deposed blaise compaore. Burkina faso governance, economy and political history. This books shows how the 2014 uprising was both a remarkable and original episode in the. Apr 09, 2020 cant foot the full amount but still want to help out. Culture of burkina faso history, people, women, beliefs. A history of power, protest and revolution, ernest harsch is published by zed books. Burkina faso history and culture, art and craft, an impact. Written by regional experts, the book explores the education systems of benin, burkina faso, cameroon, cape verde, chad, the gambia, ghana, guinea, guineabissau, ivory coast. History and culture, republic of burkina faso ebook by. A frenchspeaking country in west africa, burkina faso has many ethnic groups and tribes that make up the society of the country.
It provides new insight into burkina faso s fascinating political history, from sankara to the 2014 uprising. He held that position until 1987, when he was killed during another coup. A farmer in burkina faso looked to his ancestors and came up with an innovative solution. Desertification is a serious problem facing numerous countries in the world today. About local gardening, school life, rural life, artists, craftspeople, a student activities page with sample questions. A history of power, protest and revolution by ernest. Burkina faso society and culture is an extremely interesting topic of investigation and study. A history of power by ernest harsch hana sandhu says this book is a gripping account of the countrys radical history of political struggle.
Complete history and culture of burkinafaso, government o. Major problems facing burkina faso today the republic of burkina faso or burkina faso for short is a landlocked west african country just at the north of ghana. It is bounded by niger to the east, mali to the north and west, and benin, togo, ghana, and ivory coast to the south. Baseworks master class offer tips on how to cycle between the baseworks modules, also acting as a bridge on how to progress your practice intelligently. Burkina faso is an artificial word, using linguistic elements from the countrys largest languages. Alainjoseph sissao was born in bobodioulasso, burkina faso. Burkinabe also migrated to ghana, mali, and senegal for work between the world wars. National anthems can be officially recognized as a.
The major ethnolinguistic group of burkina faso is the mossi. History of burkina faso lonely planet travel information. Burkina fasos national parks include po in the southcentre of the country, arly in the southeast, and w in the east, straddling the border with benin and niger. History of burkina faso including independence from 1960. English though the last official presence of usaid in burkina faso ended in 1995, usaid has remained active in the country through a variety of regional and emergency programs. Online shopping for books from a great selection of south africa, north africa, east africa, west africa, southern africa, central africa.
A history of power, protest, and revolution foreign. American spy by lauren wilkinson, the parachute drop by norbert zongo, of water and the spirit. Ghana the world factbook central intelligence agency. Burkina faso cinema by sampson jerry available from rakuten kobo. Or click on one of the links below to go to another section of the site. Based on an unusual sourcea retrospective survey of migration from 1900 to 1975this book traces the history of internal and international labor migration involving colonial and contemporary burkina faso, the west african coast, and other parts of africa. Goldstone, george mason university few outsiders understand burkina faso better than harsch, and nobody has written about it with more clarity and elegance. In gratitude, we will send you the entirety of action philosophers.
Since there are only a few books set in burkina faso below, i thought i would make it easier to find books set in other west african. Mali to the north, niger to the east, benin to the south east, togo, ghana to. Cant foot the full amount but still want to help out. But weeks after a democratically elected government took office, qaeda militants in january 2016 carried out the most devastating terrorist attack in burkina faso s history, killing 30 people at. By the 14th century the territory of presentday burkina faso was occupied by the bobo, lobi, gourounsi and the mossi. Curious if anybody from burkina faso made it our most famous people in the. Required if traveling from a country with risk of yf virus transmission and. Burkina faso attracts migrants from cote divoire, ghana, and mali, who often share common ethnic backgrounds with the burkinabe. A fascinating journey through the turbulent history of burkina faso. Their tools, including scrapers, chisels and arrowheads, were discovered in 1973 through archaeological excavations. This third edition of historical dictionary of burkina faso covers its history through a chronology, an introductory essay, maps, appendixes, and an extensive.
Christmas eve saw more than 30 people, mostly women, killed in. A history of power, protest, and revolution by ernest harsch is a comprehensive history of burkina faso. Burkina faso s ancient and precolonial history is only known in fragments, due to the lack of early and consistent written sources and the limited archaeological information available. Recent excavations have shown that rich and stratified societies lived in permanent villages in.