Indelible Footprints In the Sands of Time
An Unexpected Beginning
In the golden sands of West Africa, tales of heroes are passed down through generations. But amidst these legends, one story stands out, shimmering with unparalleled brilliance—the meteoric rise of Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara, the upright man.
Born on December 21, 1949, in the small town of Yako in what was then Upper Volta, Thomas came into the world without the privileges of a silver spoon. His parents, humble and hardworking, instilled in him values of honesty, grit, and compassion. From his earliest days, Sankara exhibited a curiosity that seemed to transcend his years. His insatiable appetite for knowledge was matched only by his innate empathy for the struggles of those around him. He wasn't just a boy with dreams; he was a boy with questions.
Ideas Don't Die
Even as a young man, Sankara seemed to understand a profound truth: Nothing happens without leadership. He wasn't about waiting for change to happen; he made change happen, he wasn't about talking the talk, he walked the talk. As he grew, this ethos followed him. In every whisper of injustice, he heard, in every cry of the oppressed, the fire in his belly grew. Through his life, we see that change is not just about grand visions but everyday actions.
Today, as Africa continues to grapple with its identity and destiny, as coups and crises continue to confront the Sahel region from which Sankara hailed; the spirit of Sankara whispers in the winds, urging us, us people of the world, us Africans to take our rightful places in our generation, to be the change we hope to see. For martyrs do not die in vain, they die for a cause and therefore we say, that for us- Thomas Sankara is not dead. Ideas don't die.
"Don't shoot, you cannot kill ideas. It's true, you cannot kill ideas. Ideas don't die" - Thomas Sankara
A Soldier with a Scholar's Heart
As fate would have it, Sankara's journey led him to the realm of military service. But he wasn't just another face in the ranks.
In the early 1970s, Sankara was dispatched to Madagascar for officer training. The island nation, known for its unique biodiversity, was also a cauldron of political change. The Malagasy Republic had recently experienced an uprising against neo-colonial structures, resulting in the establishment of a Marxist government. This was the backdrop against which Sankara would experience firsthand the power of revolutionary ideas and grassroots mobilization.
Madagascar was not just a geographical detour for Sankara; it was an ideological crucible. He observed a nation grappling with its post-colonial identity, much like his homeland. The Malagasy approach to community-driven development, sustainable agriculture, and healthcare fascinated him.
"The enemies of a people are those who keep them in ignorance." - Thomas Sankara
When Sankara returned to Upper Volta, he was not the same man who had left its shores. He had transformed from a military officer into a visionary revolutionary, eager to awaken the slumbering spirit of Burkina Faso. The lessons from Madagascar were etched in his soul:
From Chains To Change
"You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain kind of madness. In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future. Besides, it took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen." - Thomas Sankara
The 1980s in Upper Volta was a period of political turbulence. Multiple coups had resulted in a series of unstable governments. Corruption was rife, and the nation, rich in gold, manganese and agricultural resources, remained economically impoverished. Sankara, who had been steadily climbing the military ranks, had already gained a reputation as a principled and progressive officer. It wasn't long before his wisdom, vision and magnetic presence caught the attention of the nation and spread like wildfire.
In 1983, Sankara was appointed as the Prime Minister of Upper Volta by the then-president, Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo. It wasn’t a throne he sought, but destiny has a way of selecting its own heroes. For many, this was the first glimpse of Sankara outside the barracks—a young, vibrant figure with a vision not just to govern, but to transform.
As Prime Minister, Sankara's radical vision became evident. He spoke out against corruption, and the neo-colonial economic system, and sought to prioritize the needs of the nation's poor.
The flame Sankara had ignited, however, couldn’t be doused so easily. The masses, having tasted the promise of genuine change, rallied. The people of Burkina Faso saw themselves in him. The streets of Ouagadougou echoed with chants, not just for Sankara’s release, but for a new direction. The public uproar was palpable. His ally, Blaise Compaoré, alongside others, orchestrated a counter-coup. The tables turned dramatically, and Sankara, once detained, emerged as the President of Burkina Faso.
An Unyielding Flame That Ignites Transformation
In a continent where leaders often make grand promises and end up achieving little to nothing, Sankara was a stark contrast. He didn't just talk of progress, he embodied it. His presidency wasn't just a tenure; it was a metamorphosis, a poignant chapter that redefined Burkina Faso. His decision to reduce dependence on foreign aid and reject external debt was met with severe resistance from global powers. Burkina Faso was isolated economically and politically, but Sankara stood firm, famously saying:
"He who feeds you controls you." - Thomas Sankara
In a region plagued by desertification, Sankara didn’t see barren lands; he envisioned possibilities. He mobilized communities for the monumental ‘Green Belt’ initiative. Millions of trees were planted, not by foreign hands or large corporations, but by ordinary Burkinabés. It was their land, and they would reclaim it, tree by tree.
Among his numerous reforms, the quest for universal healthcare stands out, not merely for its scale but for its audacity. Diseases like meningitis, yellow fever, and measles had long cast their ominous shadow over the nation. But where others saw despair, Sankara saw determination.
Under his leadership, Burkina Faso saw women not just as homemakers, but as soldiers, decision-makers, and agents of change. He fervently opposed practices that subjugated women, including forced marriages and female genital mutilation. Women found their voices in governance, their strength in the military, and their rights in workplaces. Sankara’s genius lay not just in his vision but in his approach. He wasn’t a distant figure, proselytizing from podiums. He was the people's leader, weaving tales of his own family, speaking of his mother, and his sisters. He made women's empowerment personal. Every woman, every man could relate, thinking of their mothers, daughters, or sisters.
"Comrades, there is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. I hear the roar of women’s silence. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt." - Thomas Sankara
Perhaps one of his most significant contributions was his unyielding rejection of neocolonialism. He boldly stood against foreign debt, refusing to be shackled by the economic dependencies that plagued many African nations. Sankara's eloquent speeches echoed across the continent, inspiring a sense of agency and self-determination. He understood that the path to true sovereignty lay in challenging the established norms and striving for self-reliance. He built railways, schools, and hospitals, bringing new life to a land that had long been neglected.
Sankara's presidency was transformative, defined by actions that were as audacious as they were visionary. He didn't just rise to become a leader; he elevated an entire nation with him. In just four years, he turned a struggling nation into a beacon of hope for Africa. He showed that leadership was not about titles or privileges; it was about service and sacrifice.
A Flame Undying
In the end, Thomas Sankara's legacy isn't about the past; it's a compass for the future. His story isn't just of heroism but of kinship. He was a brother, a son, a friend—an African. His life serves as a clarion call to Africans, urging us to take on the baton from previous generations, to take charge, and to shape the destiny of our continent.
"While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas." - Thomas Sankara
Sources
- Book- Thomas Sankara: An African Revolutionary by Ernest Harsch
- Book- Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution 1983-87 edited by Michel Prairie and Thomas Sankara
- Documentary- Thomas Sankara: The Upright Man
