Thomas Sankara, The African Che

Captain Thomas Sankara
Captain Thomas Sankara

Thomas Isidore Sankara was a great visionary African leader, the kind which comes around once every 50 years or century. He had an unlimited and undying love for his country, his fellow countrymen, and his continent. He had a vision for a true independent African country, and continent. He strongly believed in justice, and worked extremely hard. He was a man of great integrity and discipline. At a time when women were relegated to the kitchen, Thomas spoke out loudly for women’s rights, and admitted women in the military, and in key positions within his government (the minister of Budget was a woman). What kind of man names his country “the land of upright people” (le pays des hommes integres)? What kind of man, by his passion and vision, reorganizes an entire country in just 4 years! no wait… actually just 3 (since the last year, Sankara’s government was crippled by internal division with Compaore’s factions). Well… let me tell you who that is: the great, and only, splendid Thomas Sankara, who made me proud of being an African child, who made me raise my chin up and walk upright!

Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou
Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou

At the time Sankara was assassinated, he was only 38 years old, a year younger than Ernesto Che Guevara… but just like Che, he left an indelible mark in the history of the world! Please join me in celebrating Captain Thomas Sankara!

(If you would like to learn more about him, please check out the website: – http://www.thomassankara.net/?lang=fr which does a good job of keeping Thomas Sankara’s memory alive and  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sankara which I contributed to).

Click on the link below and watch the video!

Thomas Sankara, le Che Africain