Nestled in the heart of West Africa, Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation with a rich and complex history. Often overshadowed by its more prominent neighbors, this small country has played a significant role in shaping regional politics, culture, and resistance movements. From ancient kingdoms to colonial struggles and modern-day revolutions, Burkina Faso’s past is a testament to the resilience of its people.
In today’s world, where discussions about sovereignty, climate change, and social justice dominate global discourse, Burkina Faso’s history offers valuable lessons. This blog explores the country’s historical trajectory, its fight against oppression, and how its legacy continues to influence contemporary debates.
Long before European colonization, Burkina Faso was home to powerful kingdoms, most notably the Mossi states. Emerging around the 11th century, the Mossi people established a series of centralized kingdoms, such as Ouagadougou, Yatenga, and Tenkodogo. These states were known for their sophisticated governance, military strength, and resistance to external domination—including the expansionist ambitions of the Mali and Songhai Empires.
The Mossi rulers, or Moro Naba, maintained a feudal system where land and power were distributed among nobles. Despite internal conflicts, the Mossi successfully resisted Islamic conversion and external conquest for centuries, preserving their indigenous traditions.
Burkina Faso was also a crossroads for trans-Saharan trade routes. Cities like Bobo-Dioulasso became melting pots of cultures, where merchants exchanged gold, salt, and kola nuts. This era laid the foundation for the country’s diverse ethnic composition, including the Gurunsi, Lobi, and Fulani peoples.
The late 19th century saw European powers carve up Africa in the infamous "Scramble for Africa." France, seeking to expand its West African empire, invaded the region in the 1890s. Despite fierce resistance from local leaders like the Moro Naba of Ouagadougou, the French eventually subdued the area, incorporating it into French West Africa as Upper Volta (Haute-Volta).
Under colonial rule, the French imposed a brutal system of forced labor (travail forcé), compelling Burkinabè to work on cotton plantations, railways, and infrastructure projects. Thousands died from exhaustion, malnutrition, and disease. The colonial economy was designed to extract resources—primarily cotton and minerals—while suppressing local industries.
Resistance never ceased. Figures like Nazi Boni, a writer and politician, advocated for independence through intellectual and political means. The Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (RDA), a pan-Africanist movement, gained traction in the 1940s, laying the groundwork for future liberation struggles.
Burkina Faso gained independence from France on August 5, 1960, under President Maurice Yaméogo. However, his authoritarian rule and economic mismanagement led to widespread discontent. In 1966, a popular uprising ousted him, marking the first of many coups in the country’s turbulent political history.
The most transformative figure in Burkina Faso’s modern history was Thomas Sankara, who seized power in 1983. A charismatic Marxist revolutionary, Sankara renamed the country Burkina Faso ("Land of Upright People") and launched radical reforms:
His policies earned admiration across Africa but also made him enemies. In 1987, he was assassinated in a coup led by his close ally, Blaise Compaoré, who ruled for 27 years with Western backing.
Sankara’s ideals resonate with modern activists fighting neocolonialism, climate injustice, and inequality. His critique of foreign debt and corporate exploitation foreshadowed today’s debates on neoliberalism and climate reparations.
Since the 2010s, Burkina Faso has faced escalating jihadist violence linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates. Coups in 2022 and 2023 reflect deep public frustration with ineffective governance. The crisis highlights broader Sahelian instability, where climate change, poverty, and foreign military interventions fuel conflict.
Burkina Faso is on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Desertification and erratic rainfall threaten agriculture, displacing thousands. Indigenous farming techniques, like the zai method (planting pits to retain water), offer sustainable solutions—another example of Burkinabè resilience.
Burkina Faso’s story is one of defiance against oppression, from pre-colonial kings to Sankara’s revolution. In a world grappling with inequality, environmental collapse, and geopolitical exploitation, its history reminds us that another world is possible—one built on justice, self-determination, and grassroots power.
As global citizens, we must listen to the voices of nations like Burkina Faso, not as passive victims but as active agents of change. Their past is not just African history—it is human history, with lessons for us all.
Further Reading & Resources:
- Thomas Sankara Speaks (collection of Sankara’s speeches)
- Burkina Faso: A History of Power, Protest, and Revolution by Ernest Harsch
- Documentaries: The Upright Men (2019), Captain Thomas Sankara (2012)
Would you like a deeper dive into any specific era or issue? Let me know in the comments!