Republic of Upper Volta
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Republic of Upper Volta République de Haute-Volta (French) | |||||||||
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1958–1984 | |||||||||
Motto: "Unité – Travail – Justice" (in French) "Unity – Work – Justice" | |||||||||
Anthem: "Hymne National Voltaïque" | |||||||||
Capital | Ouagadougou | ||||||||
Common languages | French | ||||||||
Demonym(s) | Upper Voltese | ||||||||
Government | One-party presidential republic (1960–1966) Military dictatorship (1966–1984) | ||||||||
President | |||||||||
• 1959–1966 | Maurice Yaméogo | ||||||||
• 1966–1980 | Sangoulé Lamizana | ||||||||
• 1980–1982 | Saye Zerbo | ||||||||
• 1982–1983 | Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo | ||||||||
• 1983–1984 | Thomas Sankara | ||||||||
High Commissioner | |||||||||
• 1958–1959 | Max Berthet | ||||||||
• 1959–1960 | Paul Masson | ||||||||
Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1971–1974 | Gérard Kango Ouédraogo | ||||||||
• 1983 | Thomas Sankara | ||||||||
Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
11 December 1958 | |||||||||
5 August 1960 | |||||||||
3 January 1966 | |||||||||
25 November 1980 | |||||||||
7 November 1982 | |||||||||
3 August 1983 | |||||||||
• Renamed | 4 August 1984 | ||||||||
Currency | CFA franc | ||||||||
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Today part of | Burkina Faso |
History of Burkina Faso | ||||||||||||||
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Burkina Faso (1984–present) | ||||||||||||||
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The Republic of Upper Volta (French: République de Haute-Volta, now Burkina Faso) was a landlocked West African country established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing colony within the French Community.[1][2] Before attaining autonomy it had been French Upper Volta and part of the French Union. On 5 August 1960, it attained full independence from France.[3] On 4 August 1984, it changed its name to Burkina Faso.
Name and flag[]
The name Upper Volta indicated that the country contains the upper part of the Volta River. The colors of the national flag corresponded to the names of its three main tributaries: the Black Volta, the White Volta and the Red Volta.[4] The flag was identical to that of the German Empire.
History[]
Upper Volta obtained independence on 5 August 1960. The first president of the country, Maurice Yaméogo, is at the head of the Alliance for Democracy and the Federation / African Democratic Rally. The 1960 Constitution establishes the election by direct universal suffrage of the President and the National Assembly for a term of five years. Shortly after coming to power, Yaméogo banned all political parties other than the Alliance for Democracy.
Thomas Sankara came to power through a military coup d'état on 4 August 1983.[5] After the coup, he formed the National Council for the Revolution (CNR), with himself as president. Under the direction of Sankara, the country changed its name on 4 August 1984, from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, which means "Land of Incorruptible People".[6]
Policy[]
From 1958 to 1960, the Republic of Upper Volta was led by a High Commissioner:
- (11 December 1958 to February 1959),
- Paul Masson (February 1959 to 5 August 1960).
From 1971 to 1987, the Republic of Upper Volta was led by a Prime Minister:
- Gérard Kango Ouedraogo (13 February 1971 to 8 February 1974)
- Thomas Sankara (4 August 1983 to 14 October 1987)
Symbols[]
Flag[]
The three colors of the national flag of Upper Volta come from the fact that the Volta has three parts: the Black Volta, the White Volta, and the Red Volta.
National Hymn[]
In French: Fière Volta de mes aieux, Nous te ferons et plus forte, et plus belle Le travail de ton sol brûlant Que Dieu te garde en sa bonté, |
In English: Proud Volta of my ancestors, We will make you stronger and more beautiful The work of your burning ground May God keep you in his goodness, |
This anthem has been replaced since 1984 by a new anthem, the Ditanyè.
See also[]
- History of Burkina Faso
- List of governors of Upper Volta
- List of heads of state of Burkina Faso
- List of heads of government of Burkina Faso
References[]
- ^ "Burkina Faso". Afripedia. Africa.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
- ^ "Field Listing: National Holiday". The World Factbook. CIA. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ Meredith, Martin (2013). The State of Africa. Simon & Schuster. p. 69. ISBN 9780857203885.
- ^ "Upper Volta (Burkina Faso, 1959-1984)". Flags of the World. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Thomas Sankara". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ "More (Language of the Mossi Tribe) Phrase Book". World Digital Library. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- Republic of Upper Volta
- History of Burkina Faso
- French West Africa
- Former colonies in Africa
- Former French colonies
- French colonisation in Africa
- Former republics
- 20th century in Burkina Faso
- States and territories established in 1958
- States and territories disestablished in 1960
- 1958 establishments in French West Africa
- 1958 establishments in the French colonial empire
- 1960 disestablishments in the French colonial empire
- Burkina Faso–France relations
- Former polities of the Cold War