Thomas Sankara is a pan-African hero we remember in October, the month of his death on October 15, 1987. His courageous ideas continue to inspire millions of people today.
Thomas Sankara was born on December 21, 1949, in Yako, Burkina Faso, into a large family. His father, who was a gendarme, always encouraged him to study hard. To go to school, Thomas decided to join the army. At that time, the army was respected and could help change things. In 1974, he became famous for defending his country during a war.
At just 33 years old, Thomas Sankara became the president of Burkina Faso after a coup d’état in 1983. He changed the name of the country to make it more beautiful: Burkina Faso means « Land of Upright People. » He wanted to stop corruption, improve education, and protect nature. He lived simply with his wife and two sons, showing that power could be modest and accessible to everyone.
Thomas Sankara believed that women should be equal to men. He said, « The revolution and the liberation of women go hand in hand. » He also encouraged people to grow their own food, as he believed foreign aid was not the solution.
Unfortunately, he was killed on October 15, 1987, during a coup d’état. But his ideas are still alive and inspire today’s youth.
Today, we celebrate Thomas Sankara, who said: « Revolutionaries can be killed, but ideas cannot. »
