A must read biography of thomas sankara president of. Sankara was known as the african che, and became famous in africa due to his innovative ideas. Sankara was known as the african che, and became famous in africa due to his innovative ideas, his devastating humor, his spirit and his altruism. Nov 25, 2011 its the international day for the elimination of violence against women today and in recognition of this dedicated day and the 16 consecutive international activist days, i am sharing quotes from one of the best speeches on womens liberation and the african freedom struggle by one of the most extraordinary leaders of modern history, former burkinabe president, thomas. 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. Toutacoup jazz was a musical group formed in the republic of upper volta today burkina. The 70 minute film also features a candid interview where fela talks about discovering his african identity in postcolonial, racist england and how this eventually led to his involvement in nigerian politics. As mandela is to south africa, so also is thomas to burkina faso. Biography of former burkina fasos president, thomas sankara.
Thomas sankara declared burkina faso the land of people of. Thomas sankara speaks by thomas sankara all african books. 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. I am talking about fela anikulapo kuti and thomas isidore sankara. The most basic lesson that sankara teaches us is that a solider without political education is a potential criminal. Meeting with fela the second debt i owe thomas sankara was my meeting with fela anikulapo kuti. For those who are familiar with it, the life of thomas sankara has a certain shakespearean quality. Africas absence from the club of those who have the right to veto is. When thomas sankara met fela kuti the video for this track uses footage filmed throughout south america. Thomas sankara was burkina fasos president from august 1983 until his assassination on october 15, 1987. Born december 21, 1949, at yako, upper volta now burkina faso, sankara was a military officer and panafricanist who became the president of the upper volta and ruled from august 4, 1983, after a military coup organized by. Saying africa, since the passing of the leaders mentioned above, had not seen a charismatic leader like. Fela anikulapo kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997, was a nigerian multiinstrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.
Thomas sankara was a military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, feminist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. Slim fit, order a size up if youd like it less fitting. Like fidel and che, sankara believed in the men and women so arrogantly dismissed by the rulers of the imperialist world. Sankara was the first president of burkina faso, an authentic revolutionary who managed in just four years to transform his society and his homeland in a way it is doubtful most would believe to be possible if told, before his assassination in 1987 and the destruction of his revolution by his. Its the international day for the elimination of violence against women today and in recognition of this dedicated day and the 16 consecutive international activist days, i am sharing quotes from one of the best speeches.
After renaming his country to burkina faso, heres thomas sankaras accomplishments, only 4 years in power 198387. 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. Image caption becky aged 11 meeting thomas sankara in ouagadougou in 1987, shortly before his assassination. Thomas isidore sankara was a great visionary african leader, the kind which comes around once every 50 years or century. Ebook thomas sankara speaks as pdf download portable. Instead of just offering a new group, he also progressed his compositional style and attitudes. Thomas sankara celebrity profile check out the latest thomas sankara photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. The thomas sankara oath black first land first blf.
Thomas sankara declared burkina faso the land of people. However, in the late 1960s to early 1970s, he went to the united states where he came in contact with the black panthers and the ideas o. These men had the same ideology but different methods of passing on the message of positive change in africa. Mariam sankara nee sereme, born 26 march 1954 is the widow of thomas sankara, the president of burkina faso previously named upper volta from 4 august 1983 until his assassination on 15 october 1987.
Sankara was a charismatic individual and it shows in his words here. In harlem, he opened an exhibit of burkinabe art the name. Thomas isidore noel sankara was a burkinabe military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, feminist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. The life and death of thomas sankara philosophy of shaving. Fela then brings us to the story of thomas sankara. Thomas sankara president of burkina faso britannica. In his own words i never knew about thomas sankara up until i saw the documentary about him on ed channel yesterday. Although his tenure in office was relatively short, sankara left an indelible mark on his countrys history and development. Blf declares this month sankara month and calls upon the youth of our country to take time to honour and educate itself about who thomas sankara was. Sankara, as fidel so memorably said of che, did not think that man is an incorrigible little animal, capable of advancing only if you feed him grass db 10 31082007 21. Entertain yourself at home with our newest torrents. Thomas isidore noel sankara 19491987 was a burkinabe military captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, and president of burkina faso from 1983 to 1987. Dec 14, 2017 a portrait composed of archives of thomas sankara, president of burkina faso between 1983 and his murder in 1987.
Facts about thomas sankara in burkina faso africa facts. Thomas sankara, a marxist and panafricanist army officer, became president of what was then known. The video for this track was created from footage filmed throughout south america of. He held that position until 1987, when he was killed during another coup. Jan 24, 2005 fela s musical life spanned through a period of almost four decades, from the 1960s through to the 1990s. No leader on earth in the past 500 years not even nelson mandela can reckon with his political, economic and social achievements. Sep 01, 2009 thomas isidore sankara was a great visionary african leader, the kind which comes around once every 50 years or century. Felas musical life spanned through a period of almost four decades, from the 1960s through to the 1990s. The band included captain thomas sankara on guitar and his close friend, captain. The upright man is a documentary by robin shuffield that describes his rise to power and his shortlived rule. Ahmed ouobaafpgetty michel kafando, the interim president, said last year that. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of africas most challenging and charismatic music. Documentary about thomas sankara by robin shuffield.
There is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. He was all about a freeaid independent burkinafaso. Stylistically, the compositions became longer, more complex, and in some senses tighter. His father, joseph sankara, a gendarme, was of mixed mossifulani silmimoaga heritage while his mother, marguerite kinda, was of direct mossi descent. More importantly, in our present time, they need to be. After the demise of africa 70, fela set forth to create a new group of musicians that he could mold, shape, and direct to play out his musical conceptions. A portrait composed of archives of thomas sankara, president of burkina faso between 1983 and his murder in 1987. He had an unlimited and undying love for his country, his fellow countrymen, and his continent.
Sankaras roman catholic parents wanted him to be a. Sankara was the first president of burkina faso, an authentic revolutionary who managed in just four years to transform his society and his homeland in a way it is doubtful most would believe to be possible if told, before his assassination in 1987 and the destruction of his. When fela was released in 1986, i sent my personal assistant to him at the shrine, that i would come. He was a genuine and dynamic leader who came to power on a continent thats mostly known for kleptocrats and entrenched dictators. I the undersigned, hereby voluntarily, without any personal or business interest, have chosen out of my free will and without prejudice to serve the public as an elected representative of the people an employee in the public sector. Fela kuti live at glastonbury festival 1984 dangerous minds. Oct 31, 2017 sankara continued getting attention for oneyearold burkina faso by making a splash in new york city during that visit in october 1984. This man was a legend and i so wish if can have so many like him and it is so unfortunate how he was killed and worse the person who was involved was his dear friend and i dont understand how he survive so many years. In 1987, at a music festival in burkina faso, fela met sankara and it was this encounter that inspired the lr track when thomas sankara met fela kuti.
When he first started in the 1960s, his brand of music was the highlife, which he performed with other artists in many nightclubs in lagos. Under sankaras leadership, the revolutionary government of burkina faso in west africa mobilized peasants. Mariam sankara, widow of thomas sankara, known as the father of the revolution in burkina faso. However, in the late 1960s to early 1970s, he went to the united states where he came in contact with the black. Thomas sankara tshirts on redbubble are expertly printed on ethically sourced, sweatshopfree apparel and available in a huge range of styles, colors and sizes. Sankara continued getting attention for oneyearold burkina faso by making a splash in new york city during that visit in october 1984. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of africas most challenging and charismatic music performers.
Thomas sankara and the assassination of africas memory. Fela anikulapo kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997, also professionally known as fela kuti, or simply fela, was a nigerian multiinstrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the afrobeat music genre and human rights activist. In an interview conducted in 1985, thomas sankara said. Top 30 quotes of thomas sankara famous quotes and sayings. Dec 01, 1988 there is a certain tragedy in the life of thomas sankara, and it is not at first glance obvious. 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. Fela kuti gastierte mit seiner band mehrmals in burkina faso. Watch capitaine thomas sankara online vimeo on demand. Thomas isidore noel sankara 21 december 1949 15 october 1987 wis a burkinabe militar captain, marxist revolutionary, panafricanist theorist, an preses o burkina faso frae 1983 tae 1987. He saw, at least in rhetoric and to a degree in practice, postcolonial liberation as being insufficient if it does not include women struggling themselves for their own freedom. More importantly, in our present time, they need to be implemented to transform the lives of african people. Shed your midweek blues with this excellent full length film of african funk magus fela kuti and band performing live at the glastonbury festival in 1984. Jun 04, 2015 harsch is a columbia university professor and formerly a journalist in africa during sankaras rule. Oct 15, 2017 image caption becky aged 11 meeting thomas sankara in ouagadougou in 1987, shortly before his assassination.
An african revolutionary, is an engaging and approachable portrait of this historical figure. In it, the viewer learns about what makes his time in office so memorable. It also happens to be the firstever english language biography of the man. Thomas sankara quotes, assassination, biography, quick facts. Thomas sankara first president and revolutionary leader of burkina faso.
Perhaps, more than any other african president in living memory, thomas sankara, in four years, transformed burkina faso from. Upon being met by a group of armed men in his own office on october 15, 1987, thomas sankara raised his arms in surrender. On october 15 sankara was assassinated and, coincidentally, it happens to be the birthday of fela kuti. During this time she was first lady of the country. Womens liberation and the african freedom struggle.
Thomas sankara remains one of africas illustrious panafrican sons, but his thoughts and actions during his short life need to be remembered by a new generation of africans. Ready to liberate his country and transform the mentalities of his fellow citizens, contesting the worlds political order and challenging the powers of his time, sankara stands out strongly in the history both of africa and of. Thomas sankara interviewing an african legend aged 11 bbc. Burkina faso opens graves to answer questions about thomas. Sankara set ambitious goals to reduce poverty in burkina faso and championed. Revisiting thomas sankara, 26 years later pambazuka news.
1032 73 860 363 260 623 1436 1132 522 78 1017 520 79 1509 334 942 776 1408 428 1483 1157 451 1493 812 121 835 205 719 1376 349 40 928 629 1058 472