Burkina Faso

Where the name comes from

Burkina Faso joins Mooré burkina, “upright people”, and Dioula faso, “homeland”, literally “father’s house”.

First people

Mossi kingdoms and other societies grew here over many centuries.¹

Known for

Burkina Faso is known for FESPACO, Africa’s largest film festival, held in Ouagadougou since 1969.²

Outside contact

France conquered Ouagadougou in 1896 and created Upper Volta in 1919.¹

The modern country

It became independent in 1960. In 1984, President Thomas Sankara renamed Upper Volta as Burkina Faso, replacing a colonial label with an ideal of integrity and self-respect.³