192-Part Guide To The World: Burkina Faso
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.OFFICIAL NAME
OFFICIAL NAME
Burkina Faso - previously known as Haute (Upper) Volta.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
French. The main local languages are Moré and Dioula (which is spoken by almost everybody as a second language).
POPULATION
10.4 million
SIZE
274,122 square kilometres (about nine times bigger than Belgium).
BEST MONUMENT
Burkina Faso is not full of architectural gems but the troglodyte dwellings that have been hewn out of the hillsides at the small village of Koro near the town of Bobo are worth a trip.
NATIONAL DISH
There is not a huge, varied cuisine to speak of. Main dishes include riz sauce (gooey rice with sauce) and riz gras (gooey rice with fat).
CLIMATE
There are three seasons. From December to February the weather is described as dry and "cool", which means that the temperature does not generally exceed 35 degrees. From March to June the weather is dry and hot. And from July to November it rains.
MOST FAMOUS CITIZEN
Captain Thomas Sankara, a left-wing military hero who loved dramatic gestures, seized power in 1983 and for four years charged around the country endearing himself to the people for his charisma and honesty. Among other things, he renamed the country Burkina Faso, which is translated as "The Land of the Incorruptible".
BEST MOMENT IN HISTORY
Few real high points, though independence in 1960 was a marginal improvement on what had gone before. That involved 60 years of French colonisation, during which time the region of Haute Volta was largely ignored in favour of Cÿte d'Ivoire.
WORST MOMENT IN HISTORY
Until 1932 the colony Haute Volta had covered a far larger area than it does today, which better reflected the ethnic unity of the so-called Mossi states. In that year, however, for commercial reasons, the colony was carved up by the French and most of the land given over to Cÿte d'Ivoire, Niger and Mali.
ESSENTIAL ACCESSORY
Cool, loose, white, enveloping clothes which will protect you from the brutal combination of sun and dust.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Don't forget to bring your (valid) yellow fever vaccination certificate, otherwise you will not be allowed into the country.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments