Difference between revisions of "Burkina Faso" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Paid}}{{Approved}}{{Images OK}}{{Submitted}}{{Copyedited}}
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{{Infobox Country  
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{{Infobox Country
 
|native_name              = Burkina Faso
 
|native_name              = Burkina Faso
 
|common_name              = Burkina Faso
 
|common_name              = Burkina Faso
 
|image_flag              = Flag of Burkina Faso.svg
 
|image_flag              = Flag of Burkina Faso.svg
 
|image_coat              = Burkinafaso coa.png
 
|image_coat              = Burkinafaso coa.png
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|national_motto          = "Unité, Progrès, Justice"&nbsp;&nbsp;<small>French]])<br>"Unity, Progress, Justice")</small>
+
|national_motto          = ''"Unité-Progrès-Justice"''<br />''("Unity, Progress, Justice")''
 
|image_map                = LocationBurkinaFaso.png
 
|image_map                = LocationBurkinaFaso.png
−
|national_anthem          = ''Une Seule Nuit''&nbsp;&nbsp;<small>[[French]]<br>"One Single Night"</small>
+
|map_caption              =
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|official_languages      = French
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|national_anthem          = ''[[Une Seule Nuit]]''{{spaces|2}}<small>(French)<br/>''One Single Night'' – Thomas Sankara''</small>
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|capital                  = Ouagadougou
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|official_languages      = [[French language|French]]
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|latd=12|latm=20|latNS=N|longd=1|longm=40|longEW=W
+
|regional_languages      = [[Mòoré language|Mòoré]], [[Dioula language|Dioula]] ([[Bambara language|Bambara]])
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|government_type          = Parliamentary system
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|demonym                  = Burkinabé (also Burkinabè and Burkinabe)
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|leader_titles            = President<br>Prime Minister
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|capital                  = [[Ouagadougou]]
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|leader_names            = Blaise Compaoré<br>Paramanga Ernest Yonli
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|latd=12 |latm=20 |latNS=N |longd=1 |longm=40 |longEW=W
−
|largest_city            = Ouagadougou
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|largest_city            = capital
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|area                    = 274,000
+
| government_type       = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[provisional government]] under a [[military junta]]
 +
| leader_title1         = Interim President and MPSR President
 +
| leader_name1          = [[Ibrahim Traoré]]
 +
| leader_title2          = [[List of prime ministers of Burkina Faso|Prime Minister]]
 +
| leader_name2          = [[Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla]]
 +
|established_event1      = from [[France]]
 +
|established_date1        = 5 August 1960
 +
|area_km2                = 274,200
 +
|area_sq_mi              = 105,869 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
 
|area_rank                = 74th
 
|area_rank                = 74th
 
|area_magnitude          = 1 E11
 
|area_magnitude          = 1 E11
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|percent_water            = 0.1%
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|percent_water            = 0.146 %
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|population_estimate      = 13,228,000
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| population_estimate   = 22,489,126<ref name=CIA>CIA, [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/burkina-faso/ Burkina Faso] ''World Factbook''. Retrieved July 31, 2023.</ref>
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|population_estimate_year = 2005
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| population_census     = 14,017,262
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|population_estimate_rank = 66th
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| population_estimate_year = 2023
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|population_census        = 10,312,669
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| population_estimate_rank = 60th
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|population_census_year  = 1996
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| population_census_year = 2006
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|population_density      = 48
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| population_density_km2 = 64
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|population_density_rank = 145th
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| population_density_sq_mi = 163,63 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
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|GDP_PPP_year             = 2005
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| population_density_rank = 137th
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|GDP_PPP                  = $16.845 billion<sup>1</sup>
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| GDP_PPP                = $45.339&nbsp;billion
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|GDP_PPP_rank            = 117th
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| GDP_PPP_year           = 2020
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|GDP_PPP_per_capita       = $1,284
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita    = $2,207<ref name="imf.org">[https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/SPROLLS/world-economic-outlook-databases#sort=%40imfdate%20descending Report for Selected Countries and Subjects] ''International Monetary Fund''. Retrieved July 31, 2023.</ref>
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|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank  = 163rd
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| GDP_nominal            = $16.226&nbsp;billion
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|sovereignty_type        = [[Independence]]
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| GDP_nominal_year       = 2020
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|established_events      = Date
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| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $926
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|established_dates        = From [[France]]<br>August 5, 1960
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| Gini                  = 35.3<ref name=CIA/> <!-- number only —>
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|currency                = CFA franc
+
| Gini_year              = 2020
 +
| Gini_change            = <!-- increase/decrease/steady —> steady
 +
| Gini_ref              =
 +
| Gini_rank              =
 +
|currency                = [[West African CFA franc]]
 
|currency_code            = XOF
 
|currency_code            = XOF
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|time_zone                = GMT
+
|time_zone                =
−
|utc_offset              =
+
|utc_offset              = +0
−
|time_zone_DST            = ''not observed''
+
|time_zone_DST            = not observed
 
|utc_offset_DST          =
 
|utc_offset_DST          =
−
|cctld                    = .bf
+
|drives_on                    = right
 +
|cctld                    = [[.bf]]
 
|calling_code            = 226
 
|calling_code            = 226
−
|footnotes               = <sup>1</sup> The data here is an estimation for the year 2005 produced by the IMF in April 2005.
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|footnote1               =  
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Burkina Faso''' is a landlocked nation in [[West Africa]]. It is surrounded by six countries: [[Mali]] to the north, [[Niger]] to the east, [[Benin]] to the southeast, [[Togo]] and [[Ghana]] to the south, and [[Côte d'Ivoire]] to the southwest. Formerly the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed on August 4, 1984 by President Thomas Sankara to mean "the land of upright people" (or "upright land") in Mossi and Dioula, the major native languages of the country. Independence from [[France]] came in 1960. Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana in search of paid labor. The inhabitants of Burkina Faso are known as ''Burkinabè'' or ''Burkinabé'' (pronounced {{IPA|[burkiːnəˈbeː]}}).
 
  
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== History ==
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'''Burkina Faso''' is a landlocked nation in [[West Africa]]. It is surrounded by six countries: [[Mali]] to the north, [[Niger]] to the east, [[Benin]] to the southeast, [[Togo]] and [[Ghana]] to the south, and [[Côte d'Ivoire]] to the southwest. Formerly ''Haute-Volta'' it was a colony of French West Africa, before becoming the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed in 1984 by then President [[Thomas Sankara]] using native words meaning "the land of upright and honest people." The inhabitants are known as ''Burkinabé''.
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{{toc}}
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Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s, though one party still dominates the politics of the nation. Despite the greater political stability, Burkina Faso is still troubled by intermittent droughts, tropical diseases and [[HIV/AIDS]], low worldwide prices for [[cotton]] (one of its major cash exports), poverty, illiteracy, and uneven population density (very high in the capital while huge areas are deserted).
  
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== Geography ==
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Burkina Faso is surrounded by six countries: [[Mali]] to the north, [[Niger]] to the east, [[Benin]] to the southeast, [[Togo]] and [[Ghana]] to the south, and [[Côte d'Ivoire]] to the southwest. It lies between the [[Sahara Desert]] and the [[Gulf of Guinea]], south of the loop of the [[Niger River]]. The land is green in the south, with [[forest]]s and fruit [[tree]]s, and [[desert]] in the north.
  
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=== Prehistory ===
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Most of the country is a gently undulating landscape with a few isolated hills. The southwest forms a [[sandstone]] massif, where the highest peak is found: Ténakourou, 2,450 ft (749 m). The massif is bordered by sheer cliffs. The difference between the highest and lowest terrain is no greater than 2,000&nbsp;ft (600 m). Burkina Faso is therefore a relatively flat country, with a very few localized exceptions.
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Like all of the west of Africa, Burkina Faso was populated early, notably by [[hunter-gatherer]]s in the northwestern part of the country (12,000 to 5000 B.C.E.), and whose tools (scrapers, chisels, and arrowheads) were discovered in 1973. Settlements appeared between 3600 and 2600 B.C.E. with farmers, the traces of whose structures leave the impression of relatively permanent buildings. The use of iron, ceramics, and polished stone developed between 1500 and 1000 B.C.E.., as well as a preoccupation with spiritual matters, as shown by the burial remains that have been discovered.
 
  
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Relics of the Dogon are found in the center-north, north and north west regions. They left the area between the 15th and 16th centuries B.C.E. to settle in the cliffs of Bandiagara. Elsewhere, the remains of high walls are localised in the southwest of Burkina Faso (as well as in the Côte d'Ivoire), but the people who built them have not yet been definitely identified.
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The country owed its former name of Upper Volta to three rivers that cross it: the Mouhoun (formerly called the Black Volta), the Nakambé (the White Volta), and the Nazinon (the Red Volta). The Mouhoun, along with the Comoé that flows to the southwest, is the country's only river to flow year-round. The basin of the Niger River also drains 27 percent of the country's surface. Its tributaries are seasonal streams, flowing for four to six months a year, but can cause [[flood]]s. The country also contains numerous [[lake]]s. Still, [[water shortage|drought]]s are often a problem, especially in the north.
  
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Burkina Faso was a very important economic region for the [[Songhai Empire]] during the 15th and 16th centuries.
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The country's game preserves - the most important of which are Arly, Nazinga, and W National Park - contain [[lion]]s, [[elephant]]s, [[hippopotamus]], [[monkey]]s, [[warthog]]s, and [[antelope]]s. [[Tourism]] is not well developed.
  
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=== From colony to independence ===
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=== Climate ===
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In 1896, the Mossi kingdom of Ouagadougou became a French protectorate after being defeated by French forces. In 1898, the majority of the region corresponding to Burkina Faso today was conquered. In 1904, these territories were integrated into French West Africa in the heart of the Upper-Senegal-Niger colony.
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[[Image:Burkina Faso Map.jpg|thumb|300px|Map of Burkina Faso]]
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[[File:Burkina sat.png|thumb|400px|Burkina Faso]]
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Tolotama Reforestation.jpg|thumb|400px|Tolotama Reforestation, Burkina Faso]]
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Burkina Faso has a primarily tropical [[climate]] with two very distinct seasons: the rainy season, which lasts approximately four months (May/June to September), and the dry season during which the harmattan blows, a hot dry wind from the [[Sahara]].  
  
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It was originally administered as part of Côte d'Ivoire colony, but became a separate colony in 1919. The new colony of Upper-Volta was broken up in 1932, being shared between the Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Niger.
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Three major climatic zones can be defined:
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*The Sahel Zone in the north, which typically receives less than 24 in. (600 mm) rainfall a year. A relatively dry tropical savanna, the [[Sahel]] extends beyond the borders of Burkina Faso, from the [[Horn of Africa]] to the [[Atlantic Ocean]], and borders the Sahara to its north, and the fertile region of the [[Sudan]] to the south.
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*The Sudan-Sahel region, a transitional zone with regards to rainfall and temperature.
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*The Sudan-Guinea zone farther to the south, which receives more than 35 in. (900 mm) of rain a year and has cooler average temperatures.
  
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In 1947 Upper Volta was re-created with its 1932 boundaries, and in 1958, it achieved self-government and became a republic and member of the Franco-African Community. Full independence was attained in 1960. The country's first military coup occurred in 1966; it returned to civilian rule in 1978. There was another coup, led by Saye Zerbo in 1980, which in turn was overthrown in 1982.  A counter-coup was launched in 1983, which left Captain Thomas Sankara in charge. The current president is Blaise Compaoré, who came to power in 1987 after a coup d'état that killed Sankara.
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== History ==
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=== Prehistory ===
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Like all of [[Western Africa]], Burkina Faso was populated early, notably by [[hunter-gatherer]]s in the northwestern part of the country (12,000 to 5,000 B.C.E.). Agricultural settlements appeared between 3600 and 2600 B.C.E. The use of [[iron]], [[ceramics]], and polished stone developed between 1500 and 1000 B.C.E. There are remains of high walls in the southwest (as well as in [[Côte d'Ivoire]]).
  
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== Politics ==
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Probably in the late 1400s C.E. the Mossi invaded the area on horseback and occupied the plateau in the center of the country. Their further spread was limited by [[sleeping sickness]], which affected the [[horse]]s. The Mossi integrated with the essentially farming ethnic groups they conquered, incorporating many of their religious practices. During this period, [[slavery|slaves]] captured on raids were sent north to [[Mali]] or south to the Atlantic coast, whence they were shipped to the Americas, especially [[Brazil]].
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[[Image:Blaise Compaoré.jpeg|thumb|President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, Source: Antônio Cruz]]
 
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The constitution of June 2, 1991, established a semi-presidential government with an Assembly that can be dissolved by the president, who is elected for a term of five years. The year 2000 saw a constitutional amendment reducing the presidential term from seven to five years, which was enforced during the 2005 elections. Another change according to the amendment would have prevented sitting president Blaise Compaoré from being re-elected. However, notwithstanding a challenge by other presidential candidates, in October 2005 the constitutional council ruled that because Compaoré was already a sitting president in 2000, the amendment would not apply to him until the end of his second term in office.  This cleared the way for his candidacy in the 2005 election, and he was reelected in a landslide due to a divided political opposition.
 
  
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The parliament consists of two chambers. There is also a constitutional chamber, composed of ten members, and an economic and social council whose roles are purely consultative.
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=== From colony to independence ===
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In 1896, the Mossi kingdom of Ouagadougou became a [[France|French]] protectorate after being defeated by French forces. In 1898, the majority of the region corresponding to Burkina Faso today was conquered, though there were periodic revolts by groups resisting taxation, centralized rule, forced labor, and military conscription. In 1904, these territories were integrated into [[French West Africa]]. Originally administered as part of [[Côte d'Ivoire]], they became a separate colony in 1919. The new colony of Upper Volta was broken up in 1932 and shared between Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and [[Niger]].
  
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Burkina Faso is divided into 13 regions, 45 provinces, and 301 departments.
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In 1947 ''Haute-Volta'' (Upper Volta) was re-created with its pre-1932 boundaries, and in 1958, it achieved self-government and became a republic and member of the Franco-African Community. Full independence was attained in 1960. The country's first military coup occurred in 1966; it returned to civilian rule in 1978. There was another coup in 1980, which in turn was overthrown in 1982. A counter-coup was launched in 1983, which left the left-leaning Captain [[Thomas Sankara]] in charge. Blaise Compaoré came to power in 1987 after a coup d'état that killed Sankara.  
  
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== Geography ==
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On October 31, 2014, President Compaoré, facing mounting pressure, resigned after 27 years in office. In the following years there was political instability with several coups.  
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[[Image:Burkina Faso Map.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Map of Burkina Faso]]
 
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{{MapLibrary|Burkina_sat.png|Burkina Faso}}
 
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Tolotama Reforestation.jpg|thumb|Tolotama Reforestation, Burkina Faso]]
 
  
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In 2022, The Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) supported by the military declared itself to be in power. The military junta restored the constitution and appointed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president. In the aftermath of the coup, ECOWAS and African Union suspended Burkina Faso's membership. On February 10, the Constitutional Council declared Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba President of Burkina Faso and he was sworn in on February 16. On March 1, 2022, the junta approved a charter allowing a military-led transition of 3 years. The charter provides for the transition process to be followed by the holding of elections.
  
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Burkina Faso is made up of two major types of countryside:
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== Government ==
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* The larger part of the country is covered by a peneplain that forms a gently undulating landscape with, in some areas, a few isolated hills, the last vestiges of a precambrian massif.
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[[Image:Ouagadougou place nations unies.JPG|thumb|400px|United Nations Square in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]
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The constitution of 1991 established a semi-presidential government with an Assembly that can be dissolved by the president, who is elected for a term of five years. In 2000 a constitutional amendment reduced the presidential term from seven to five years.  
  
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* The south-west of the country forms a [[sandstone]] massif, where the highest peak is found: Ténakourou, 2,450 ft (749 meters). The massif is bordered by sheer cliffs up to 490&nbsp;ft) (150 meters) high.
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The prime minister is head of government and is appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly. He is responsible for recommending a cabinet for appointment by the president
  
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The average altitude is 1,300&nbsp;ft (400 meters)  and the difference between the highest and lowest terrain is no greater than  2,000&nbsp;ft (600 meters). Burkina Faso is therefore a relatively flat country, with a very few localized exceptions.
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Burkina Faso is divided into 13 regions, 45 provinces, and 301 departments. Each region is administered by a governor.  
  
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The country owed its former name of Upper Volta to three rivers that cross it: the Mouhoun (formerly called the Black Volta), the Nakambé (the White Volta) and the Nazinon (the Red Volta). The Mouhoun, along with the Comoé that flows to the southwest, is the country's only river to flow year-round
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===Foreign relations===
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Burkina Faso is a member of the G5 Sahel, Community of Sahel–Saharan States, La Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and United Nations. It is currently suspended from ECOWAS and the African Union.
  
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The basin of the Niger River also drains 27 percent of the country's surface. Its tributaries (the Béli, the Gorouol, the Goudébo, and the Dargol) are seasonal streams, and only flow for four to six months a year but can cause large [[flood]]s.
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== Economy ==
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[[Image:BurkinaFasoPeanutWoman.jpg|400px|thumb|Peanut seller in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.]]
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Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. This can partly be attributed to population growth and arid soil. [[Agriculture]] represents 32 percent of its gross domestic product and occupies 80 percent of the working population. It consists mostly of livestock but also, especially in the south and southwest, crops such as [[sorghum]], [[millet]], [[maize]] (corn), [[peanut]]s, [[rice]], and [[cotton]], which is the major cash crop. Burkino Faso has been a leader in opposing cotton subsidies by the developed countries to their producers, on the grounds that subsidies encourage dumping, which results in lower world demand and prices. Some farmers in Burkina Faso are threatening to stop raising the crop because of the falling prices. An estimated three million people depend on cotton for their livelihood. The government is also trying to increase yield with better seeds and to find other uses for the cotton, such as making cooking oil.
  
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The country also contains numerous lakes. The principal lakes are Tingrela, Bam, and Dem, and the large ponds of Oursi, Béli, Yomboli, and Markoye.
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Lack of work opportunities causes a high rate of emigration: for example, three million Burkinabe lived in [[Côte d'Ivoire]] until 2002, sending home tens of billions of CFA francs each year. The crisis in Côte d'Ivoire led to the return of 300,000 migrants.  
  
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[[Drought|Water shortages]] are often a problem, especially in the north of the country.
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Burkina is attempting to improve the economy by developing its mineral resources, improving its infrastructure, making its agricultural and livestock sectors more productive and competitive, and stabilizing the supplies and prices of food grains.
  
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== Climate ==
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Manufacturing is limited to [[cotton]] and food processing (mainly in Bobo-Dioulasso). Some factories are privately owned, and others are set to be privatized. The deposits of [[manganese]], [[zinc]], and [[gold]] have attracted the interest of international mining firms.
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Burkina Faso has a primarily tropical climate with two very distinct seasons: the rainy season with between 24-35 inches (600 and 900 mm) of rainfall, and the dry season during which the harmattan blows, a hot dry wind from the Sahara. The rainy season lasts approximately four months, May/June to September, and is shorter in the north of the country.
 
  
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Three large climatic zones can be defined:
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== Demographics ==
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===The Sahel Zone===
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Tarfila Farming Group.jpg|thumb|400px|Tarfila Farming Group]]
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Madame Badoun.jpg|thumb|400px|Shop in Burkina Faso]]
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Bobo Vendors.jpg|thumb|400px|Vendors in Burkina Faso]]
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Sala Well.jpg|thumb|400px|Sala Well]]
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The Burkinabe belong to two major West African language and cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mande. The Voltaic are far more numerous and include the Mossi, who make up about half of the population and are concentrated on the [[Mossi Plateau]] in the center of the country.
  
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The [[Sahel]] in the north typically receives less than 24 inches (600 mm)rainfall a year and high temperatures 15&ndash;50&nbsp;°C (60&ndash;120&nbsp;°F). A relatively dry tropical savanna, the Sahel extends beyond the borders of Burkina Faso, from the [[Horn of Africa]] to the [[Atlantic Ocean]], and borders the [[Sahara]] to its north, and the fertile region of the Sudan to the south.
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The population is concentrated in the south and center of the country, sometimes exceeding 125 per sq.&nbsp;mi. (48 per sq.&nbsp;km). This high population density causes annual migrations of hundreds of thousands for [[seasonal employment]], especially during the dry season.  
  
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=== The Sudan-Sahel zone ===
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Approximately 50 percent of the population is [[Islam|Muslim]]; [[Christian]]s account for about 25 percent, and followers of traditional African religions (typically [[animism]] of various forms) make up about 25 percent. Many Christians and Muslims incorporate elements of animism into their religious practices. Most of the people in rural areas practice animism.
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The Sudan-Sahel region is a transitional zone with regards to rainfall and temperature.
 
  
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=== The Sudan-Guinea zone ===
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French is the official language, but the majority of the people speak ethnic tongues, of which there are about 60.
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Further to the south, the Sudan-Guinea zone receives more than 35 inches (900 mm) of rain a year and cooler average temperatures.
 
  
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== Economy ==
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Women occupy a subordinate position and experience discrimination in education, jobs, property, and family rights. Women still do much of the subsistence farming work.  
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Tarfila Farming Group.jpg|thumb|Tarfila Farming Group]]
 
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Madame Badoun.jpg|thumb|Shop in Burkina Faso]]
 
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[[Image:Burkina Faso - Bobo Vendors.jpg|thumb|Vendors in Burkina Faso]]
 
  
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Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. This is represented numerically in its low GDP per capita income, $1,300. This ranks it as the 28th poorest nation, among other nations such as the [[Republic of the Congo]] and [[Tajikistan]]. This can be explained by its population growth and its arid soil. [[Agriculture]] represents 32 percent of its gross domestic product and occupies 80 percent of the working population. It consists mostly of livestock but also, especially in the south and southwest, of growing [[sorghum]], [[millet]], [[maize]] (corn), [[peanut]]s, [[rice]], and [[cotton]].
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The country is a source, transit, and destination country for internationally trafficked persons, including children. Children from Mali often are trafficked through Burkina Faso to Cote d'Ivoire. Destinations for trafficked children from Burkina Faso include Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria.  
  
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Lack of work causes a high rate of emigration: for example, three million people from Burkina Faso live in [[Côte d'Ivoire]]. According to the Central Bank of Western African States, these migrants send tens of billions of CFA francs back to Burkina Faso each year. Since the 1967 expulsions from [[Ghana]], this situation has provoked tensions in the destination countries. The most recent crisis occurred owing to the events of 2003 in Côte d'Ivoire, which led to the return of 300,000 migrants.
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A large proportion of children work, largely as domestic servants or in the agricultural or mining sectors, where working conditions are harsh. Children commonly work with their parents in rural areas or in family-owned small businesses in villages and cities.
  
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A large part of the economic activity of the country is funded by international aid.
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=== Education ===
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Education is technically free and officially mandatory until the age of 16; however, few Burkinabé have had formal education. Though schooling is free, attendance is not enforced, and only about 35 percent of Burkina's primary school-age children receive a basic education. Children are responsible for paying for school supplies, which often cost more than tuition. Many parents cannot afford to lose a child's labor in the fields or at other jobs.  
  
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The currency of Burkina Faso is the CFA franc.
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Girls make up slightly more than one-third of the student population in primary schools. Schools in rural areas have even lower percentages of female students, and illiteracy for girls in the rural areas is as high as 95 percent. The government promotes primary education for girls through encouragement of donor scholarships, school feeding programs, and information campaigns to change societal attitudes toward educating girls.
  
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There is mineral exploitation of [[copper]], [[iron]], [[manganese]], and, above all, [[gold]].
+
Institutions of higher education include the University of Ouagadougou, the Polytechnical University in Bobo-Dioulasso, and the Koudougou Ecole Normale Superieure.
  
−
Burkina Faso also hosts the International Art and Craft Fair, Ouagadougou, better known by its French name as SIAO, one of the most important African handicraft fairs.
+
==Culture==
 +
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een Nunuma of Winiama maskerdanser TMnr 20031569.jpg|thumb|350px|A masked Winiama dancer, c. 1970]]
  
−
== Demographics ==
+
[[Literature]] in Burkina Faso is based on the [[oral tradition]], which remains important. In 1934, during French occupation, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo published his ''Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi'' (''Maximes, Thoughts and Riddles of the Mossi''), a record of the oral history of the [[Mossi people]]. The oral tradition continued to have an influence on Burkinabè writers in the post-independence Burkina Faso of the 1960s, such as [[Nazi Boni]] and Roger Nikiema. The 1960s saw a growth in the number of playwrights being published. Since the 1970s, literature has developed in Burkina Faso with many more writers being published.
−
[[Image:Ouagadougou place nations unies.JPG|thumb|United Nations Square in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]
+
 
−
[[Image:Burkina Faso - Sala Well.jpg|thumb|Sala Well]]
+
The theatre of Burkina Faso combines traditional Burkinabè performance with the colonial influences and post-colonial efforts to educate rural people to produce a distinctive national theatre. Traditional ritual ceremonies of the many ethnic groups in Burkina Faso have long involved dancing with [[mask]]s. Western-style theatre became common during colonial times, heavily influenced by [[French theatre]]. With independence came a new style of theatre inspired by [[Theatre of the Oppressed|forum theatre]] aimed at educating and entertaining Burkina Faso's rural people.
  
−
Burkina Faso has an estimated life expectancy at birth of slightly under 50 years of age. The median age of its inhabitants is under 17.
+
===Arts and crafts===
 +
[[File:Burkina faso artisan painted gourds.jpg|thumb|400px|Artisan garland of decorative painted [[gourd]]s in [[Ouagadougou]]]]
  
−
The population growth rate is 2.71 percent (2000 est.) Population estimates take into account the effects of excess mortality due to [[AIDS]]; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.): the 11,946,065 ''Burkinabè'' belong to two major West African cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mande. The Voltaic are far more numerous and include the Mossi, who make up about one-half of the population. Additionally, about 5,000 Europeans live in Burkina Faso.
+
In addition to several rich traditional artistic heritages among the peoples, there is a large artist community in Burkina Faso, especially in [[Ouagadougou]]. Much of the crafts produced are for the country's growing tourist industry.
  
−
The population is concentrated in the south and center of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometer (125/sq.&nbsp;mi.). This high population density, causes annual migrations of hundreds of thousands, for seasonal employment.  
+
Burkina Faso also hosts the International Art and Craft Fair, Ouagadougou. It is better known by its French name as [[SIAO]], ''Le Salon International de l' Artisanat de Ouagadougou'', and is one of the most important African handicraft fairs.
  
−
Approximately 50 percent of the population is [[Islam|Muslim]]; [[Christian]]s account for about 30 percent, and followers of traditional African religions (typically [[animism]] of various forms) make up about 20 percent. Many Christians and Muslims incorporate elements of animism into their religious practices.
+
===Cuisine===
 +
[[File:Fufu.jpg|thumb|400px|A plate of [[fufu]] (right) accompanied with [[peanut soup]]]]
  
−
=== Education ===
+
Typical of West African cuisine, Burkina Faso's cuisine is based on [[staple food]]s of [[sorghum]], [[millet]], rice, maize, peanuts, potatoes, [[bean]]s, [[yam (vegetable)|yam]]s and [[okra]]. The most common sources of animal protein are chicken, chicken eggs and fresh water fish. A typical Burkinabè beverage is Banji or Palm Wine, which is fermented [[Palm wine|palm sap]]; and Zoom-kom, or "grain water" purportedly the national drink of Burkina Faso. Zoom-kom is milky-looking and whitish, having a water and cereal base, best drunk with ice cubes. In the more rural regions, in the outskirts of Burkina, you would find Dolo, which is drink made from fermented millet.
−
Education is technically free and officially mandatory until the age of 16; however, few Burkinabè have had formal education.  Though schooling is free, attendance is not enforced, and only about 35 percent of Burkina's primary school-age children receive a basic education. Institutions of higher education include the University of Ouagadougou and The Polytechnical University in  Bobo-Dioulasso.
 
  
−
The [[United Nations]] Development Program Report places Burkina Faso as the most illiterate country in the world, with only a 12.8 percent literacy rate.
+
===Cinema===
 +
The cinema of Burkina Faso is an important part of West African and African film industry.<ref>Lieve Spaas, ''The Francophone Film: A Struggle for Identity'' (Manchester University Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0719058615).</ref> Burkina's contribution to [[African cinema]] started with the establishment of the film festival [[FESPACO]] (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou), which was launched as a film week in 1969. Many of the nation's filmmakers are known internationally and have won international prizes.
  
−
== Culture ==
+
For many years the headquarters of the Federation of Panafrican Filmmakers (FEPACI) was in Ouagadougou, rescued in 1983 from a period of moribund inactivity by the enthusiastic support and funding of President Sankara. (In 2006 the Secretariat of FEPACI moved to South Africa, but the headquarters of the organization is still in Ouagadougou.) Among the best known directors from Burkina Faso are [[Gaston Kaboré]], [[Idrissa Ouedraogo]] and [[Dani Kouyate]].<ref>Teresa Hoefert Turégano, ''African Cinema and Europe: Close-Up on Burkina Faso'' (Florence: European Press Academic, 2004, ISBN 978-8883980312).</ref> Burkina produces popular television series such as ''Les Bobodiouf''. Internationally known filmmakers such as Ouedraogo, Kabore, Yameogo, and Kouyate make popular television series.
  
−
''See also'':
+
===Sports===
−
*[[List of African writers (by country)#Burkina Faso|List of writers from Burkina Faso]]
+
Sport in Burkina Faso is widespread and includes [[soccer]], [[basketball]], cycling, rugby union, handball, [[tennis]], [[boxing]], and [[martial arts]]. Soccer is the most popular sport in Burkina Faso, played both professionally, and informally in towns and villages across the country. The national team is nicknamed "Les Etalons" ("the Stallions") in reference to the legendary horse of Princess [[Yennenga]].
−
*[[Music of Burkina Faso]]
 
−
*[[Cinema of Burkina Faso]].
 
  
 +
In 1998, Burkina Faso hosted the [[Africa Cup of Nations]] for which the Omnisport Stadium in Bobo-Dioulasso was built. Burkina Faso qualified for the 2013 African Cup of Nations]]in South Africa and reached the final, but then lost to Nigeria 0–1.
  
−
== Miscellaneous topics ==
+
Basketball is another sport which enjoys much popularity for both men and women.
−
* [[Communications in Burkina Faso]]
 
−
* [[Foreign relations of Burkina Faso]]
 
−
* [[List of Burkina Faso-related topics]]
 
−
* [[Military of Burkina Faso]]
 
−
* [[Music of Burkina Faso]]
 
−
* [[Transport in Burkina Faso]]
 
  
−
==References==
+
At the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], the athlete [[Hugues Fabrice Zango]] won Burkina Faso's first Olympic medal, winning bronze in the [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump|men's triple jump]]. Cricket is also picking up in Burkina Faso with Cricket Burkina Faso running a 10 club league.
−
<div class="references-small">
 
−
<references />
 
−
</div>
 
  
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==External links==
+
==Notes==
−
=== Research ===
+
<references/>
−
*[http://www.afrikaforschung.de/englisch/burkina_e.htm Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Africa (ZIAF), Frankfurt, Germany]
 
−
*[http://www.biota-africa.de/1024/biota_west_english/structure_west.htm BIOTA-West]
 
  
−
===Culture===
+
==References==
−
*[http://www.fespaco.bf/index_en.html Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO)]
 
−
*[http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/Art%20of%20Burkina%20Faso.html "The Art of Burkina Faso" By Christopher D. Roy]
 
−
*[http://www.burkinabe.be/en/ Photos and stories of life in the North of Burkina Faso]
 
−
*[http://www.helge.at/photos/burkina2003/ Photos from Burkina Faso]
 
−
*[http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/photos.html Photographs of daily life in Burkina Faso (1970-2004)] 
 
−
*[http://artqtserver.art.uiowa.edu:8080/Yero%20Fantogo56K_Aud_Str001.mov Listen to "Fulbe" (Fulani) music]
 
−
*[http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/AFLIT/CountryBurkinaFasoEN.html  Women authors fom Burkina Faso at a glance'']
 
−
*[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Burkina-Faso.html Encyclopedia of the Nations : Burkina Faso]
 
  
−
===Government and organizations===
+
* Bohannan, Paul and Philip Curtin, ''Africa and Africans,'' 3rd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 1988. ISBN 0881333476
−
*[http://www.primature.gov.bf/ Premier Ministère] official government portal (in French)
+
* Cutter, Charles H. ''Africa 2006.'' Harpers Ferry, WV: Stryker-Post Publications, 2006. ISBN 1887985727
−
*[http://www.burkinaembassy-usa.org/ Embassy of Burkina Faso in Washington, DC] government information and links
+
* Harsch, Ernest. ''Burkina Faso: A History of Power, Protest, and Revolution''. Zed Books, 2017. ISBN 978-1786991355
−
*[http://hilfedirekt.at/webs/start_english.html Aid organization, photos and videos from Burkina Faso]
+
* Roy, Christopher D., and Thomas G.B. Wheelock. ''Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso''. Prestel Pub, 2007. ISBN 978-3791335148
 +
* Sankara, Thomas. ''We Are the Heirs of the World's Revolutions''. Pathfinder Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0873489898
 +
* Spaas, Lieve. ''The Francophone Film: A Struggle for Identity''. Manchester University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0719058615
 +
* Turégano, Teresa Hoefert. ''African Cinema and Europe: Close-Up on Burkina Faso''. Florence: European Press Academic, 2004. ISBN 978-8883980312
  
−
===News===
+
==External links==
−
*[http://allafrica.com/burkinafaso/ allAfrica - ''Burkina Faso''] news headline links
+
All links retrieved November 22, 2023.
  
−
===Overviews===
+
* [http://www.burkinabe.be/en/ Burkina Faso], ''Burkinabe''.
−
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1032616.stm BBC News - ''Country Profile: Burkina Faso'']
+
* [https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Burkina-Faso.html Burkina Faso], ''Encyclopedia of the Nations''.
−
*[http://www.britannica.com/nations/Burkina-Faso Encyclopaedia Britannica, Country Page - ''Burkina Faso'']
+
* [https://allafrica.com/burkinafaso/ Burkina Faso - Top News], ''allAfrica''.
−
*{{CIA_World_Factbook_link|uv|Burkina Faso}}
+
* [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13072774 Burkina Faso country profile], ''BBC''.
 +
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/burkina-faso/ Burkina Faso], CIA ''The World Factbook''.
 +
* [https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Country_Specific/Burkina.html Burkina Faso Page], ''African Studies Center''.
 +
* [https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/burkina-faso Maps of Burkina Faso], ''World Atlas''.
  
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===Directories and portals===
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{{credit|Burkina_Faso|94892869|Geography_of_Burkina_Faso|189229848}}
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*[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Africa/Burkina_Faso/ Open Directory Project - ''Burkina Faso''] directory category
 
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*[http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/burkina.html Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: ''Burkina Faso''] directory category
 
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*[http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Burkina.html University of Pennsylvania - African Country Studies: ''Burkina Faso'']
 
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*[http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Burkina_Faso/ Yahoo! - ''Burkina Faso''] directory category
 
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* [http://www.ouaganet.com/ OuagaNet.com: A portal site about Burkina Faso English/French]
 
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*[http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/bf.htm Burkina Faso map and information page by World Atlas]
 
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*[http://www.professores.uff.br/hjbortol/arquivo/2006.1/applets/burkina_faso_en.html Burkina Faso's location on a 3D globe (Java)]
 
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*[http://www.polyarchy.org/africa/burkina.faso.html Africa : Burkina Faso]
 
  
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[[Category: Nations and places]]
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[[Category:Geography]]
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[[Category:African nations]]
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[[Category:Countries]]
 
[[Category:Africa]]
 
[[Category:Africa]]
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{{credit|94892869}}
 

Latest revision as of 18:45, 22 November 2023

Burkina Faso
Flag of Burkina Faso Coat of arms of Burkina Faso
Motto: "Unité-Progrès-Justice"
("Unity, Progress, Justice")
Anthem: Une Seule Nuit (French)
One Single Night – Thomas Sankara
Location of Burkina Faso
Capital
(and largest city) 		Ouagadougou
12°20′N 1°40′W
Official languages French
Recognized regional languages Mòoré, Dioula (Bambara)
Demonym Burkinabé (also Burkinabè and Burkinabe)
Government Unitary provisional government under a military junta
 -  Interim President and MPSR President Ibrahim Traoré
 -  Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla
Establishment
 -  from France 5 August 1960 
Area
 -  Total 274,200 km² (74th)
105,869 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 0.146 %
Population
 -  2023 estimate 22,489,126[1] (60th)
 -  2006 census 14,017,262 
 -  Density 64/km² (137th)
163,63/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2020 estimate
 -  Total $45.339 billion 
 -  Per capita $2,207[2] 
GDP (nominal) 2020 estimate
 -  Total $16.226 billion 
 -  Per capita $926 
Gini (2020) 35.3[1] 
Currency West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone (UTC+0)
Internet TLD .bf
Calling code +226

Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation in West Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest. Formerly Haute-Volta it was a colony of French West Africa, before becoming the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed in 1984 by then President Thomas Sankara using native words meaning "the land of upright and honest people." The inhabitants are known as Burkinabé.

Governmental instability during the 1970s and 1980s was followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s, though one party still dominates the politics of the nation. Despite the greater political stability, Burkina Faso is still troubled by intermittent droughts, tropical diseases and HIV/AIDS, low worldwide prices for cotton (one of its major cash exports), poverty, illiteracy, and uneven population density (very high in the capital while huge areas are deserted).

Geography

Burkina Faso is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest. It lies between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea, south of the loop of the Niger River. The land is green in the south, with forests and fruit trees, and desert in the north.

Most of the country is a gently undulating landscape with a few isolated hills. The southwest forms a sandstone massif, where the highest peak is found: Ténakourou, 2,450 ft (749 m). The massif is bordered by sheer cliffs. The difference between the highest and lowest terrain is no greater than 2,000 ft (600 m). Burkina Faso is therefore a relatively flat country, with a very few localized exceptions.

The country owed its former name of Upper Volta to three rivers that cross it: the Mouhoun (formerly called the Black Volta), the Nakambé (the White Volta), and the Nazinon (the Red Volta). The Mouhoun, along with the Comoé that flows to the southwest, is the country's only river to flow year-round. The basin of the Niger River also drains 27 percent of the country's surface. Its tributaries are seasonal streams, flowing for four to six months a year, but can cause floods. The country also contains numerous lakes. Still, droughts are often a problem, especially in the north.

The country's game preserves - the most important of which are Arly, Nazinga, and W National Park - contain lions, elephants, hippopotamus, monkeys, warthogs, and antelopes. Tourism is not well developed.

Climate

Map of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Tolotama Reforestation, Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has a primarily tropical climate with two very distinct seasons: the rainy season, which lasts approximately four months (May/June to September), and the dry season during which the harmattan blows, a hot dry wind from the Sahara.

Three major climatic zones can be defined:

  • The Sahel Zone in the north, which typically receives less than 24 in. (600 mm) rainfall a year. A relatively dry tropical savanna, the Sahel extends beyond the borders of Burkina Faso, from the Horn of Africa to the Atlantic Ocean, and borders the Sahara to its north, and the fertile region of the Sudan to the south.
  • The Sudan-Sahel region, a transitional zone with regards to rainfall and temperature.
  • The Sudan-Guinea zone farther to the south, which receives more than 35 in. (900 mm) of rain a year and has cooler average temperatures.

History

Prehistory

Like all of Western Africa, Burkina Faso was populated early, notably by hunter-gatherers in the northwestern part of the country (12,000 to 5,000 B.C.E.). Agricultural settlements appeared between 3600 and 2600 B.C.E. The use of iron, ceramics, and polished stone developed between 1500 and 1000 B.C.E. There are remains of high walls in the southwest (as well as in Côte d'Ivoire).

Probably in the late 1400s C.E. the Mossi invaded the area on horseback and occupied the plateau in the center of the country. Their further spread was limited by sleeping sickness, which affected the horses. The Mossi integrated with the essentially farming ethnic groups they conquered, incorporating many of their religious practices. During this period, slaves captured on raids were sent north to Mali or south to the Atlantic coast, whence they were shipped to the Americas, especially Brazil.

From colony to independence

In 1896, the Mossi kingdom of Ouagadougou became a French protectorate after being defeated by French forces. In 1898, the majority of the region corresponding to Burkina Faso today was conquered, though there were periodic revolts by groups resisting taxation, centralized rule, forced labor, and military conscription. In 1904, these territories were integrated into French West Africa. Originally administered as part of Côte d'Ivoire, they became a separate colony in 1919. The new colony of Upper Volta was broken up in 1932 and shared between Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Niger.

In 1947 Haute-Volta (Upper Volta) was re-created with its pre-1932 boundaries, and in 1958, it achieved self-government and became a republic and member of the Franco-African Community. Full independence was attained in 1960. The country's first military coup occurred in 1966; it returned to civilian rule in 1978. There was another coup in 1980, which in turn was overthrown in 1982. A counter-coup was launched in 1983, which left the left-leaning Captain Thomas Sankara in charge. Blaise Compaoré came to power in 1987 after a coup d'état that killed Sankara.

On October 31, 2014, President Compaoré, facing mounting pressure, resigned after 27 years in office. In the following years there was political instability with several coups.

In 2022, The Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) supported by the military declared itself to be in power. The military junta restored the constitution and appointed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president. In the aftermath of the coup, ECOWAS and African Union suspended Burkina Faso's membership. On February 10, the Constitutional Council declared Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba President of Burkina Faso and he was sworn in on February 16. On March 1, 2022, the junta approved a charter allowing a military-led transition of 3 years. The charter provides for the transition process to be followed by the holding of elections.

Government

United Nations Square in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The constitution of 1991 established a semi-presidential government with an Assembly that can be dissolved by the president, who is elected for a term of five years. In 2000 a constitutional amendment reduced the presidential term from seven to five years.

The prime minister is head of government and is appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly. He is responsible for recommending a cabinet for appointment by the president

Burkina Faso is divided into 13 regions, 45 provinces, and 301 departments. Each region is administered by a governor.

Foreign relations

Burkina Faso is a member of the G5 Sahel, Community of Sahel–Saharan States, La Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and United Nations. It is currently suspended from ECOWAS and the African Union.

Economy

Peanut seller in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. This can partly be attributed to population growth and arid soil. Agriculture represents 32 percent of its gross domestic product and occupies 80 percent of the working population. It consists mostly of livestock but also, especially in the south and southwest, crops such as sorghum, millet, maize (corn), peanuts, rice, and cotton, which is the major cash crop. Burkino Faso has been a leader in opposing cotton subsidies by the developed countries to their producers, on the grounds that subsidies encourage dumping, which results in lower world demand and prices. Some farmers in Burkina Faso are threatening to stop raising the crop because of the falling prices. An estimated three million people depend on cotton for their livelihood. The government is also trying to increase yield with better seeds and to find other uses for the cotton, such as making cooking oil.

Lack of work opportunities causes a high rate of emigration: for example, three million Burkinabe lived in Côte d'Ivoire until 2002, sending home tens of billions of CFA francs each year. The crisis in Côte d'Ivoire led to the return of 300,000 migrants.

Burkina is attempting to improve the economy by developing its mineral resources, improving its infrastructure, making its agricultural and livestock sectors more productive and competitive, and stabilizing the supplies and prices of food grains.

Manufacturing is limited to cotton and food processing (mainly in Bobo-Dioulasso). Some factories are privately owned, and others are set to be privatized. The deposits of manganese, zinc, and gold have attracted the interest of international mining firms.

Demographics

Tarfila Farming Group
Shop in Burkina Faso
Vendors in Burkina Faso
Sala Well

The Burkinabe belong to two major West African language and cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mande. The Voltaic are far more numerous and include the Mossi, who make up about half of the population and are concentrated on the Mossi Plateau in the center of the country.

The population is concentrated in the south and center of the country, sometimes exceeding 125 per sq. mi. (48 per sq. km). This high population density causes annual migrations of hundreds of thousands for seasonal employment, especially during the dry season.

Approximately 50 percent of the population is Muslim; Christians account for about 25 percent, and followers of traditional African religions (typically animism of various forms) make up about 25 percent. Many Christians and Muslims incorporate elements of animism into their religious practices. Most of the people in rural areas practice animism.

French is the official language, but the majority of the people speak ethnic tongues, of which there are about 60.

Women occupy a subordinate position and experience discrimination in education, jobs, property, and family rights. Women still do much of the subsistence farming work.

The country is a source, transit, and destination country for internationally trafficked persons, including children. Children from Mali often are trafficked through Burkina Faso to Cote d'Ivoire. Destinations for trafficked children from Burkina Faso include Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria.

A large proportion of children work, largely as domestic servants or in the agricultural or mining sectors, where working conditions are harsh. Children commonly work with their parents in rural areas or in family-owned small businesses in villages and cities.

Education

Education is technically free and officially mandatory until the age of 16; however, few Burkinabé have had formal education. Though schooling is free, attendance is not enforced, and only about 35 percent of Burkina's primary school-age children receive a basic education. Children are responsible for paying for school supplies, which often cost more than tuition. Many parents cannot afford to lose a child's labor in the fields or at other jobs.

Girls make up slightly more than one-third of the student population in primary schools. Schools in rural areas have even lower percentages of female students, and illiteracy for girls in the rural areas is as high as 95 percent. The government promotes primary education for girls through encouragement of donor scholarships, school feeding programs, and information campaigns to change societal attitudes toward educating girls.

Institutions of higher education include the University of Ouagadougou, the Polytechnical University in Bobo-Dioulasso, and the Koudougou Ecole Normale Superieure.

Culture

A masked Winiama dancer, c. 1970

Literature in Burkina Faso is based on the oral tradition, which remains important. In 1934, during French occupation, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo published his Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi (Maximes, Thoughts and Riddles of the Mossi), a record of the oral history of the Mossi people. The oral tradition continued to have an influence on Burkinabè writers in the post-independence Burkina Faso of the 1960s, such as Nazi Boni and Roger Nikiema. The 1960s saw a growth in the number of playwrights being published. Since the 1970s, literature has developed in Burkina Faso with many more writers being published.

The theatre of Burkina Faso combines traditional Burkinabè performance with the colonial influences and post-colonial efforts to educate rural people to produce a distinctive national theatre. Traditional ritual ceremonies of the many ethnic groups in Burkina Faso have long involved dancing with masks. Western-style theatre became common during colonial times, heavily influenced by French theatre. With independence came a new style of theatre inspired by forum theatre aimed at educating and entertaining Burkina Faso's rural people.

Arts and crafts

Artisan garland of decorative painted gourds in Ouagadougou

In addition to several rich traditional artistic heritages among the peoples, there is a large artist community in Burkina Faso, especially in Ouagadougou. Much of the crafts produced are for the country's growing tourist industry.

Burkina Faso also hosts the International Art and Craft Fair, Ouagadougou. It is better known by its French name as SIAO, Le Salon International de l' Artisanat de Ouagadougou, and is one of the most important African handicraft fairs.

Cuisine

A plate of fufu (right) accompanied with peanut soup

Typical of West African cuisine, Burkina Faso's cuisine is based on staple foods of sorghum, millet, rice, maize, peanuts, potatoes, beans, yams and okra. The most common sources of animal protein are chicken, chicken eggs and fresh water fish. A typical Burkinabè beverage is Banji or Palm Wine, which is fermented palm sap; and Zoom-kom, or "grain water" purportedly the national drink of Burkina Faso. Zoom-kom is milky-looking and whitish, having a water and cereal base, best drunk with ice cubes. In the more rural regions, in the outskirts of Burkina, you would find Dolo, which is drink made from fermented millet.

Cinema

The cinema of Burkina Faso is an important part of West African and African film industry.[3] Burkina's contribution to African cinema started with the establishment of the film festival FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou), which was launched as a film week in 1969. Many of the nation's filmmakers are known internationally and have won international prizes.

For many years the headquarters of the Federation of Panafrican Filmmakers (FEPACI) was in Ouagadougou, rescued in 1983 from a period of moribund inactivity by the enthusiastic support and funding of President Sankara. (In 2006 the Secretariat of FEPACI moved to South Africa, but the headquarters of the organization is still in Ouagadougou.) Among the best known directors from Burkina Faso are Gaston Kaboré, Idrissa Ouedraogo and Dani Kouyate.[4] Burkina produces popular television series such as Les Bobodiouf. Internationally known filmmakers such as Ouedraogo, Kabore, Yameogo, and Kouyate make popular television series.

Sports

Sport in Burkina Faso is widespread and includes soccer, basketball, cycling, rugby union, handball, tennis, boxing, and martial arts. Soccer is the most popular sport in Burkina Faso, played both professionally, and informally in towns and villages across the country. The national team is nicknamed "Les Etalons" ("the Stallions") in reference to the legendary horse of Princess Yennenga.

In 1998, Burkina Faso hosted the Africa Cup of Nations for which the Omnisport Stadium in Bobo-Dioulasso was built. Burkina Faso qualified for the 2013 African Cup of Nations]]in South Africa and reached the final, but then lost to Nigeria 0–1.

Basketball is another sport which enjoys much popularity for both men and women.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, the athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango won Burkina Faso's first Olympic medal, winning bronze in the men's triple jump. Cricket is also picking up in Burkina Faso with Cricket Burkina Faso running a 10 club league.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 CIA, Burkina Faso World Factbook. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. ↑ Report for Selected Countries and Subjects International Monetary Fund. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ Lieve Spaas, The Francophone Film: A Struggle for Identity (Manchester University Press, 2001, ISBN 978-0719058615).
  4. ↑ Teresa Hoefert Turégano, African Cinema and Europe: Close-Up on Burkina Faso (Florence: European Press Academic, 2004, ISBN 978-8883980312).

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Bohannan, Paul and Philip Curtin, Africa and Africans, 3rd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 1988. ISBN 0881333476
  • Cutter, Charles H. Africa 2006. Harpers Ferry, WV: Stryker-Post Publications, 2006. ISBN 1887985727
  • Harsch, Ernest. Burkina Faso: A History of Power, Protest, and Revolution. Zed Books, 2017. ISBN 978-1786991355
  • Roy, Christopher D., and Thomas G.B. Wheelock. Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso. Prestel Pub, 2007. ISBN 978-3791335148
  • Sankara, Thomas. We Are the Heirs of the World's Revolutions. Pathfinder Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0873489898
  • Spaas, Lieve. The Francophone Film: A Struggle for Identity. Manchester University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0719058615
  • Turégano, Teresa Hoefert. African Cinema and Europe: Close-Up on Burkina Faso. Florence: European Press Academic, 2004. ISBN 978-8883980312

External links

All links retrieved November 22, 2023.

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