Burkina Faso Celebrates Independence, August 5, 2023
By Joy Osiagwu
Burkina Faso in West Africa has borders with Mali, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. European nations fought for control over the nation’s significant gold reserve in the 19th century with France. The French, however, succeeded in establishing the area as a French protectorate. The people gained independence from France on August 5, 1960, as Upper Volta and renamed the region Burkina Faso in 1984 by President Thomas Sankara, the military and Pan-African leader, and revolutionary who led the country from 1983 to 1987 when he was assassinated in another coup led by Blaise Compaoré, who became President and ruled for 27 years.
With a population of 20,321 378, Burkina Faso, with its capital at Ouagadougou, is an agricultural economy with low -income and limited natural resources. The standard languages are Mossi, Fula, Guourmantche Dyula, Bissa French, Bwamu, and Bobo.
Current Governance Structure
Burkina Faso operates the semi- Presidential Republic where the President is the head of state while the Prime Minister is the head of government. Executive powers are vested in both the President and the government. Meanwhile, the legislative branch is responsible for appointing officials for policymaking. The legislative branch has the duty of recommending specified officials accountable for policymaking. Captain Ibrahim Traore officially became President in October 2022, after overthrowing his predecessor, President Marc Kabore, in a coup in January 2022.
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Burkinabe Chef Andre Bayala is on our radar.
It was Burkinabe’s inspirational and formal military President, Thomas Sankara, who made a remarkable statement, “Consume what you produce and produce what you consume”, which has continued to make an impact over three decades after his death.
Andre Bayala, a Burkinabe Chef, made that statement his mantra, and today, he has continued to make headlines for his chocolate pastries feat. Chef Bayala became Africa’s best chocolatier in 2016 and has kept the Burkina Faso flag flying high in the confectionaries sector. His story is that of persistence and perseverance.
Chef Bayala’s restaurants in Ouagadougou, the capital, continue to make “unforgettable chocolate pastries even as he grows his cocoa and creates amazing chocolates from the raw material. His passion has kept him on the global map as his products are sold across Africa, Europe, and the United States of America. Michel Zongo, a cinematographer, and director in Burkina Faso, captured his craft in three feature documentaries that have earned him several awards. We celebrate Chef Bayala and wish him more success in the industry as he continues to raise the flag of Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso- Ottawa Connection
Association des Burkinabe d ’Ottawa et de l’Outaouais – ABOO is on Facebook with over 800 followers. You can email [email protected] for more information about the community association in Gatineau, Quebec. The Embassy of Burkina Faso in Ottawa is located at 48 Range Rd, K1N8J4—phone: 613 238 4796.