BOOK REVIEW: Thomas Sankara, A Revolutionary In Cold War Africa by Brian Peterson

If you want to learn about Thomas Sankara, this is a must read!

If you decide to grade the top ten legendary Presidents from Africa, Thomas Sankara would be on the list. He deserves it. However, despite the legend of Sankara, very few people know him. His life is covered with myths, legends, and some falsehoods. In his short lifetime, he achieved so much that he transcended his tiny West African country. He had many lovers and many critics. He was unfortunate to be a president when the Cold War was still on. Sometimes I wonder what Sankara would have become if he had been a President in another era... he might have lived longer. But that’s not anything any of us can do anything about; what we have is Thomas Sankara, the man who lived between 1949-1987.

This biography by Brian Peterson does an excellent job of narrating the full story of Thomas Sankara. On his birthday, his father declared, “A Captain has been born”. Indeed, those words turned out to be prophetic for the leadership role that Sankara would carry throughout his life. His integrity, discipline, and willingness to stand by the people made Sankara stand out as a leader. Thomas Sankara loved his country. Although his father wanted him to be a priest, he chose the military. At the age of 17, Sankara entered the military academy. The military would define his entire life from that moment forward. Sankara was not just an ordinary soldier; he was devoted to the life of the mind. He was a voracious reader. He joined groups within the military that debated books, ideas, and revolutions. One turning point in Sankara's life was when he witnessed a popular uprising in Madagascar. Although Sankara had read of revolutions, this was the first time he had witnessed it in person. It made a big impression on him. He became a national figure in Upper Volta during the border wars between Upper Volta and Mali. His performance endeared him to many as a patriot. Soon, he was invited to be a Minister in Government.

In 1983, at the age of 33, Sankara was made President after a coup organized by his bosom friend, Blaise Compaore. For the next four years, Thomas Sankara would become an international figure and attempt to set his country on the right path. His achievements during these four years were nothing short of incredible. First, he changed the name of Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, the “land of Upright Men”. He drastically reduced government waste, launched an ambitious project to increase the literacy rate to 90%, vaccinated 2 million Burkinabe, and long before “climate change” became a booze word, Thomas Sankara began working to protect Burkina Faso’s environment. Sankara was a big advocate of women’s rights. He advocated for women's rights, appointed women to the government's role, and made symbolic gestures aimed at encouraging greater respect for women. There was no question the people of Burkina Faso loved him dearly; they followed almost everything he said. Yet, Sankara was not Qadafi or Mao Zedong who encouraged a big cult of personality. In fact, Sankara discouraged it. He refused to see himself as a big figure. His entire possessions after his death were just a motorcar, three bicycles, a guitar, and a refrigerator. Sankara was one of those rare leaders who led by example. As President, he saved costs by “hitchhiking” with other presidents, such as the President of Ivory Coast, to travel for international events. 

One time Thomas Sankara's sister was arrested for a corruption allegation. People thought he would get involved and help her get out. Instead, he publicly announced that he wasn’t getting involved, if she was innocent, she would be set free, and if she was guilty, she would face the full consequences of her actions. Of course, this sent a strong signal to the whole country: this man was incorruptible.

Sankara was a big advocate of African independence. He believed that African countries should receive aid. A major theme in all his speeches that brought him many fans and critics was his constant rhetoric against imperialism and neocolonialism. He believed that receiving aid was detrimental to African countries. He worked hard to achieve food sufficiency for Burkina Faso. He made some big progress in Agriculture, increasing food production on an impressive scale. Western Media accused Sankara of being a communist, but he was never one. His policies were primarily driven by pragmatism. Despite all his achievements, Sankara’s primary error was in his economics. The state was in control of everything. We now know that this has never worked. The economy grows only when people can innovate, create and produce as they see opportunities, not when the government determines who produces, what is produced, and how it is produced. In other aspects, Sankara implemented some policies that endeared him to the Bretton Woods institutions, institutions he loathed and refused to get loans from. His cost-saving measures were standard requirements for loans by World Bank or IMF. Throughout his tenure, Burkina Faso’s economy was on the brink. Although his rhetoric was strong against aid, Thomas Sankara was able to achieve some of his major projects only with aid. In fact, Burkina Faso’s annual budget was immensely funded by France. International organizations provided aid to fund humanitarian projects such as vaccinations, tree planting, and educational projects.

On the international scene, Thomas Sankara became a symbol of resistance. All across Africa, he was loved by many. He was called Africa's Che Guevara. He was a Pan-Africanist to the core. His rhetoric against neocolonialism and imperialism resonated with many; it made him many friends and powerful enemies. And thus, they began the plot for his removal. Ultimately, his friend Blaise Compaore was the architect who ceased power from Sankara after brutally killing him. At the moment when his assailants attacked him, he did not resist; rather he came out with hands in the air, saying they should not kill anyone else, just him. In the end, his sacrificial lifestyle shined through. His life was a seed. The government tried to tarnish his image using falsehoods. His memory was too powerful. They had to ban people from visiting his grave. He had once said that “While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas.” It took more than 27 years before the people of Burkina Faso rose up against Blaise Compaore. Thomas Sankara's memory was a powerful rallying point for the protests that engulfed Burkina Faso. Blaise Compaore resigned in 2014. 

I got around to reading this book because I was tired of the myth around the man. I wanted to understand him and see beyond the ideological divides. I found a great man. You may want to read this too.