Thomas Sankara: always remembered
No other African leader, and very few contemporary leaders in the rest of the world, brought so much radical change, so quickly and were so revolutionary as Burkina Faso's The Lion King Thomas Sankara. He was most visionary and creative. And he was a most incorruptible of men.
Africans will never forget one of its most caring sons: As Africa looks desperately for leaders of integrity and vision, the life and ideals of the late Thomas Sankara seem more and more relevant and exemplary with the passage of time. Sankara is still venerated as much as Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabral and Steve Biko are - in Africa and as much as Che Guevara is, around the world.
Image: Google Images
Africans will never forget one of its most caring sons: As Africa looks desperately for leaders of integrity and vision, the life and ideals of the late Thomas Sankara seem more and more relevant and exemplary with the passage of time. Sankara is still venerated as much as Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabral and Steve Biko are - in Africa and as much as Che Guevara is, around the world.
Sankara, a charismatic army captain, came to power in Burkina Faso, in 1983, in a popularly supported coup. He immediately launched the most ambitious program for social and economic change ever attempted on the African continent. To symbolize this rebirth, he even renamed his country from the French colonial Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, Land of Upright Men. As soon as he took office, he reduced the salaries of all public servants, including his own, and forbade the use of chauffeur-driven Mercedes and 1st class airline tickets. Like many revolutionary leaders, he banned unions, a free press, anything which might stand in the way of his plans for the immediate and radical transformation of society. NewsreelThe Lion King, the martyr, Thomas Sankara lives on. He will always remain one of Africa's greatest, most venerated and one of Africa's most highly regarded leaders. And he will always be remembered.
Image: Google Images