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 | |||||||||
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| Capital | Ouagadougou | ||||||||
| Common languages |
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| Religion | |||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Upper Voltan[1] | ||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
| 4 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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The Republic of Upper Volta (French: République de Haute-Volta) was a landlocked West African country established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing state within the French Community.[2][3] Before becoming autonomous, it had been part of the French Union as the French Upper Volta. On 5 August 1960, it gained full independence from France.[4] On 4 August 1984, it changed its name to Burkina Faso.
Etymology[edit]
The name Upper Volta indicated that the country contains the upper part of the Volta River.
History[edit]
Upper Volta obtained independence on 5 August 1960, with Maurice Yaméogo of the Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally (UDV-RDA) becoming the country's first president. A constitution was ratified the same year, establishing presidential elections by direct universal suffrage and a National Assembly, both with five-year terms. Shortly after coming to power, Yaméogo banned all political parties other than the UDV-RDA. He had shown a deep authoritarian streak even before becoming president. Between the time he became prime minister of Upper Volta while it was still a French colony and independence two years later, opposition parties were subjected to increased harassment.
On 3 January 1966, Yaméogo was overthrown in a coup d'état led by army chief Sangoulé Lamizana. Although multiparty democracy was nominally restored four years later, Lamizana dominated the country's politics until he was himself overthrown in 1980.
After a series of short-term presidencies, Thomas Sankara then 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]
Politics[edit]
From 1958 to 1960, the Republic of Upper Volta was led by a high commissioner:
- Max Berthet (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[edit]
Flag[edit]
The colours of the national flag corresponded to the names of its three main tributaries: the Black Volta, the White Volta and the Red Volta.[7] The flag was identical to that of the German Empire.
National Hymn[edit]
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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 was replaced in 1984 by a new anthem, the Ditanyè.
Cultural references[edit]
During the 1960s, the Soviet Union was sometimes derisively referred to as "Upper Volta with rockets",[8] coined by a journalist Xan Smiley,[9] referencing USSR's disproportion of defence sector over relatively undeveloped civilian economy.[10]
See also[edit]
- 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[edit]
- ^ National Basic Intelligence Factbook. United States: Central Intelligence Agency, 1980, p. 205 [1]
- ^ "Burkina Faso". Afripedia. Africa.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
{{cite web}}: 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Upper Volta (Burkina Faso, 1959-1984)". Flags of the World. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ Crashaw, Steve (15 November 1998). "Televison [sic]: From Burkina Faso with rockets to Upper Volta without". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ "Research Topics". www.russialist.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ Harrison, Mark (7 November 2017). "The Soviet economy, 1917-1991: Its life and afterlife". VoxEU.org. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 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
- Military dictatorships