That is why sankara, participating in his last summit in addis ababa in july 1987, had shouted at african leaders asking them to form a united front to demand the cancellation of illegitimate african debt. There is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. Upper volta decided not to go, and burkina faso has upheld that decision not because there is not much hope of us bringing home medals, no. Thereforeallkarmahasbeenenjoined inaccordancewithworldlyunderstanding,whichat tributestotheatmatidiversitj,agency,enjoyment, impurity. 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. Excerpts from a talk given by larry hales to a new york city meeting of workers world party on nov.
Download file to see previous pages do not expect any change of heart from such powers. A marxistleninist and panafricanist, he was viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution and is sometimes referred to as africas che guevara. He held that position until 1987, when he was killed during another coup. Sankara had called a meeting of the omr revolutionary military organisation, on the evening of october 15 where he was to give this speech. Sankara s roman catholic parents wanted him to be a priest. The event was organized as part of the annual havana international book fair. Thomas sankara s most popular book is thomas sankara speaks. The life, politics and legacies of thomas sankara examine sankara s political philosophies and. Thomas sankara was one of africas most important antiimperialist leaders of the late 20th century. Thomas sankara, the revolutionary leader of the west african nation burkina faso from 1983 to 1987, was killed in the belief that it could extinguish the example he set for african youth and progressive forces across the continent. Books by thomas sankara author of thomas sankara speaks. Thomas sankara and the black spring in burkina faso. Thomas sankaras speech to the 39th plenary of the united nations general. His declaration that fundamental sociopolitical change would require a certain amount of madness driving the burkinabe revolution, which again resurfaced in the countrys popular uprising in 2014.
His father, joseph sankara, a gendarme, was of mixed mossifulani silmimoaga heritage while his mother, marguerite kinda, was of direct mossi descent. Speeches from the burkina faso revolution 198387, 2nd edition thomas sankara on. Thomas sankaras speech at the united nations in 1984. Their uprising was against the old ties to imperialist governments and financial institutions, the old relationships of exploitation and the abuse of public office to amass personal wealth at the expense of the people.
Biography of former burkina fasos president, thomas sankara. Womens liberation and the african freedom struggle. 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. United nations general assembly in new york political, and social ontologies. The ancient city of ife, yoruba tradition, greek myth and glass. 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. A fervent panafricanist and admirer of the great ghanaian leader, thomas sankara endorsed this statement of truth by president nkrumah. Oct 02, 2015 on october 4th, 1984, thomas sankara addressed the general assembly of the united nations. We should say technical assassins in a 1986 speech at the organisation for african unity in addis ababa, sankara asked his fellow african leaders to challenge the use of debt to enable neocolonialism saying. On october 4th, 1984, thomas sankara addressed the general assembly of the united nations. Oct 12, 2007 thomas sankara on africas debt burden after his presentation, cheminade showed a video of a speech by thomas sankara, the former president of burkina faso, comparing it to the 1982 speech by thenmexican president jose lopez portillo to the united nations, which was shown the previous day see eir, sept. Its an honor to collaborate with those who promote pathfinder books by sankara, malcolm x, and cuban revolutionaries, he said. Sankaras revolutionary legacy discussed at new york forum.
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. The life and death of thomas sankara philosophy of shaving. Dec 01, 1988 there is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. Remembering thomas sankara on the 30th anniversary of his assassination recognizing the ongoing importance of a politics of madness to confront neoimperialism by dr.
Thomas sankara was greatly inspired by the cuban revolution. The lives and afterlives of thomas sankara pluto press. Surprisingly, the countercoup in october 1987 that led to his death was led by his friend blaise compaore who had now turned against sankara s ideas. Thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. Sankara speaks as an outstanding revolutionary leader of working people and youth the world over. Of course he quickly denied any involvement in the assassination and by the evening of sankara s death he became the president. Facts about thomas sankara in burkina faso my blog. Since its independence from france on 5 august 1960 to 15 october 1987, burkina faso, the land of the upright people, has experience five changes in government. Thomas sankara s mind must be thinking on similar lines when he thought of selfreliant economy and he was averse to receive loans from the world bank. I recommend this book to the readers who are interested in learning why the empirical western countries have a constant interest in destabilizing third world countries, especially african countries.
Second edition includes a new introduction by editor michel prairie, foreword, maps, chronology and glossary, as well as an index. Sankara made a state visit to moscow while on a tour of other friendly states in october 1984. Of course he quickly denied any involvement in the assassination and by the evening of sankaras death he became the president. An analysis of thomas sankara a former president of burkina faso as a leader article pdf available may 2016 with 3,184 reads how we measure reads.
Thomas sankara president of burkina faso britannica. Pdf an analysis of thomas sankara a former president of. Jun 04, 2015 harsch is a columbia university professor and formerly a journalist in africa during sankaras rule. An avowed marxist, he outspokenly asserted his countrys. Pdf a political biography of thomas sankara 19491987. Sep 15, 2017 sankara on foreign debt debt is neocolonialism, in which colonisers transformed themselves into technical assistance. Several members of his military entourage and advi. Thomas sankaras speech at the united nations discours. Sankaras roman catholic parents wanted him to be a priest.
In french, at the united nations general assembly, in new york city, on 4 october 1984. Jackson, editor and contributor of a certain amount of madness. I would like to situate my ideas within the geopolitical context of the popular uprisings that continue to take place around the world as. Feature thomas sankaras speech at the united nations in 1984. Thomas sankara has 14 books on goodreads with 3388 ratings. Thomas sankaras most popular book is thomas sankara speaks. 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. Thomas sankara s revolutionary legacy lives on december 9, 2009 by demba moussa dembele thomas sankara, the revolutionary leader of the west african nation burkina faso from 1983 to 1987, was killed in the belief that it could extinguish the example he set for african youth and progressive. 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. Homefeature thomas sankaras speech at the united nations in 1984.
To say that thomas sankara was isolated is a dreadful understatement. Sankara understood that womens position in society is not a product of nature but of history, richardson said. Surprisingly, the countercoup in october 1987 that led to his death was led by his friend blaise compaore who had now turned against sankaras ideas. Thomas isidore noel sankara 21 december 1949 15 october 1987 was a burkinabe military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. This booklet by thomas sankara, the leader of burkina fasos. Womens liberation and the african freedom struggle thomas sankara on. These are some of thomas sankara quotes that africans should always keep in mind. Nov 05, 20 remembering thomas sankara, the effs muse. It was his very political exclusivity that generated the total separation from organisations, groups, parties and trade unions who could have supported his initiatives and defended the revolution against the military. Thomas sankara was a modern revolutionary 19831987 who sought to improve the conditions of his country though nonviolent, democratic means. Thomas sankara links international journal of socialist renewal. 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. For thomas sankara, relying on ones own strength meant asking the burkinabe people to think about their own development.
Theincreasinointerestevincedbythethinking worldinthepliilo. The most common commercial crop is thomas sankara was born in northern french upper volta in the year into a family that allowed him greater educational opportunities, and a chance to seek the benefits of a career in the military. Most important, i think, is to give people confidence in themselves, to understand that ultimately he can sit down and write about his development, he can sit down and write about his happiness, he can say what he wants. 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. Sankara was a great leader who moulded burkinafaso and set the grounds for the nation to thrive today. Speeches from the burkina faso revolution 198387, 2nd edition. Ny meeting discusses sankaras legacy today the militant. It also happens to be the firstever english language biography of the man. At united nations general assembly october 4, 1984 154. Thomas sankara began by purging the deeply entrenched bureaucratic and institutional corruption in burkina faso. Harsch is a columbia university professor and formerly a journalist in africa during sankara s rule. Indeed, shortly before this he had asked all activists to leave the ucb, a political party which contained many people conspiring in the manner thomas sankara describes in his speech. 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.
In burkina faso since the uprising that drove blaise compaore from office, thomas sankara s name and contribution to revolutionary thought and the struggle of the burkinabe people has shone. Thomas sankara quotes, assassination, biography, quick facts. President thomas sankara was a visionary, a man of integrity, issa zoungrana, a representative of stand for life and liberty, said. Trois ans avant sa mort orchestree selon toute vraisemblance par son co. It would be difficult to find a less corrupt, selfserving leader than thomas sankara anywhere in the world. Books thomas sankara an african revolutionnary, a book of ernest harsch. 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. It was a historical speech, as only he, the great orator, could speak. Revisiting thomas sankara, 26 years later pambazuka news. Alem desses, outros dois setores demonstravam certa insatisfacao com sankara. It was a grave mistake to have looked for a man, a star, at all costs, to the point of creating one, that is, to the point of attributing the ownership of the event to captain sankara, who must have been the brains, etc. An african revolutionary, is an engaging and approachable portrait of this historical figure.
Panelist asha samadmatias, a professor at city college of new york, described meeting sankara when he addressed the united nations and spoke at city college in october 1984. Thirtytwo page photo section features many unpublished photos of the burkina faso revolution. After renaming his country to burkina faso, heres thomas sankaras accomplishments, only 4 years in power 198387. 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.