Sankara's Ghost

I was long under the misconception that Africa’s problems are so huge, complex and diverse…

Where to start…? How to establish real change…? How to improve the people's lives and futures…? And then I stumbled upon a documentary about Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s President from 1983 to 1987.

Thomas Sankara became president of then Upper Volta after a military coup on August 4, 1983. Sankara managed to revolve Upper Volta from an impoverished country, totally dependent on foreign aid, into a self-sustaining proud African nation WITHIN FIVE YEARS!

Our country produces enough to feed us all. We can even produce more than we need.Unfortunately, for lack of organization, we still need to beg for food aid. This type of assistance is counterproductive and has kept us thinking that we can only be beggars who need aid. - Thomas Sankara

Sankara managed to give his people a sense of pride, self awareness and self determination by applying simple but strict rules. Sankara was a military leader after all, not an elected official...

While Sankara’s policies proved to be very successful in his country, opposition abroad increased in particular from French governments, who somehow still have not been able to deal with and leave their colonial power status behind and are still meddling in the affairs of their former colonies up to this day.

Sankara proved his point and symbolized his vision by changing Upper Volta’s name into Burkina Faso - The Land of Upright People - in 1984. 

How relevant is Sankara today? How does Sankara’s ghost continues to live on in the hearts and minds of the people? Well, for one, Sankara proved that once people are set on a path of self determination a lot is possible in a short period of time. 

Adversaries will argue that Sankara was a dictator, proponent of a Marxist-Leninist doctrine, not a democratically elected official. Which is true...

It is also true that a democracy is very expensive institution and when a nation state faces problems on the level of providing the most basic needs and essentials to its people, who are we, outsiders, to deny them the right to self-determination?

Democracy somehow has gained the higher moral ground when compared to other doctrines, whereas in principle it is no more than another way of expressing and safeguarding the most basic of human rights, among which the right to free speech and the right to self-determination, as a way for any souvereign nation state and all of humanity to achieve liberty, equality, solidarity and justice for all.

But what when democracy becomes a label, a trademark, with nothing more than a sense of 'feel good' so often expressed by other commercial brands? What if democracies fall victim to global power play? Then democracy loses its higher moral ground and becomes a double standard. Free speech, free elections for the 'haves' as long as the 'have nots' comply...

Sankara was able to put food on the table for his fellow countrymen, not by stealing and robbing, but making them work for it, often more literal than not with their own bare hands. And in doing so restoring their pride, self esteem and sense of purpose. Albeit for a short period of time.

Sankara was murdered on October 15, 1987 in a military coup, which ensured that Burkina Faso would align closer to the vision of its former colonial democratic master instead of choosing its own destiny amidst the league of nations.

A nation that loves itself, also loves other people. - Thomas Sankara

A nation that loves itself, also loves other people and will act accordingly, much like we human beings act out of the love that was instilled in us. 

A nation that lacks self-love, or even worse, suffers from self-hate, will seek to fulfil its needs outdoors, much like people do. It may even enforce this in perpetual war. 

A nation that is at peace with itself, will nurture, provide sustenance for its people, much like Sankara did for a short period of time.

History is written from the perspective of the victors. From our perspective Sankara was a winner. He set an example that may be followed by future African leaders. 

Sankara's ghost continues to live on in the hearts and minds of the upright people.

This article is a re-published post from www.ubuntu.fm

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