MY WALL OFFAME WITH FEMI LADAPO (FEMOLAD)

Thomas Sankara {TOM SANK}

“Imperialism is a system of exploitation that occurs not only in the brutal form of those who come with guns to conquer territory. Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms, a loan, food aid, blackmail . We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on Earth to rule all of humanity.”

― Thomas Sankara

Thomas Sankara, born on Dec 21st 1949, killed on Oct 15th 1987, was a charismatic left-wing leader and president of Upper Volta, which he renamed Burkina Faso ("the land of upright people") during his period of office between 1983 and 1987. As a professing Pan Africanist he fought for a united Africa. He is frequently referred to as the "Che of Black Africa" for his resemblance to Ernesto Guevara with regards to personality and political ideas. Inspired by the Cuban Revolution, Sankara is widely considered as an example for the possibility of revolution in one of the poorest countries of the world.

 During his military training Thomas Sankara befriended Capitaine Blaise Compaoré. In 1983 they organized a coup d'état, after Sankara had been held in custody for his political attitude which conflicted with the conservative rulers. During his presidency he carried out a number of partly very successful reforms for the socialist development of the country, which included nationalization, reforestation projects and numerous social programs and aimed at the struggle against corruption and poverty and at the improvement of education and health care.

 

Among these measures one can mention vaccination programs, the radical abolition of the privileges of the public servants (cheap cars) and a land reform, whose resounding success made Burkina Faso independent of food imports within very few years

Sankara committed himself to strengthening the role of women in the society of Burkina Faso by for example prohibiting female circumcision and speaking out against polygamy. His government has the highest percentage of women in the whole of Africa. Sankara's popularity extended beyond the borders of his country and turned him into a globally known public figure.  

He was quoted as once saying “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.”

Although he reformed the political system for establishing possibilities of direct participation, he was also criticized, because the internal polarization of his country and the poor effectiveness of the state for the implementation of his ideals forced him to the apply strict measures such as the intolerance of political opposition, arbitrary decisions and indoctrination via the educational system, which he regarded as an "instrument of the revolution".

 

On Oct 15th in 1987 the president was killed in a coup, again led by his former friend Blaise Compaoré, who disagreed with Sankara's ideas.

Seizing the power. Compaoré canceled all nationalization and social programs and ordained a restructuring program by the IMF.

 

One week before, Sankara said in memory of Guevara: "Revolutionaries and individuals can be murdered, but ideas never die". Today, Thomas Sankara is regarded as person with an incorruptible integrity, who – in contrast to many African rulers – maintained modesty and credibility throughout his life. His death is symbolic of failed chances in Africa; his life is inspiration for many people who share his notion of justice and equality and aspire to turn it into reality.

Femi Ladapo writes from Ibadan Nigeria