Thomas Isidore Sankara, also called Africa’s Che Guevara, an African icon continues to be remembered for his anti- imperialism ideology and struggle in Burkina Faso and the African continent. 75 years on, his teachings still live on. The news desk of For You Media Africa takes us back in time in remembrance of this great hero.
As the West Africa nation of Burkina Faso and the African continent celebrated Thomas Sankara’s 75th anniversary on Saturday, December 21, the news desk of For You Media Africa took a dive back at the life of Africa’s Che Guevara, an upright man considered a national hero who made anti-imperialism his struggle.
Captain Thomas Sankara came to power in 1983 at the age of 33 sought to defend the country through his policy of national liberation and development. Down this path, he renamed the country, dropping the colonial name of Upper Volta to the Land of Honest People (Burkina Faso).
While defending the interest of his people as a communist and pan-Africanist, he launched a war against imperialism, taking back surplus land from landlords and encouraged agricultural development.
Thomas Sankara relied on the people, who readily responded to his calls to plant thousands of trees to combat the encroaching desert in the north of the country, or to build railways.
The leader rejected all external help, convinced that « he who gives you food also dictates the rules », encouraging the people to buy African goods and wear traditional clothing.
As a result of his economic and social policies, the country became self-sufficient in terms of food.
Despite being an African icon, he was assassinated by a former comrade in October 1987 and continues to be remembered on the African continent as his teachings still resonates in present day when Africans are in a struggle for the continent’s true independence.
