# List of Burkinabes

This is a list of notable people from Burkina Faso, formerly French Upper Volta.

## Filmmakers

* Sarah Bouyain (born 1968), French-Burkinabé film director
* Gaston Kaboré (born 1951), film director
* Fanta Régina Nacro (born 1962), film director
* Idrissa Ouedraogo (born 1954), film and television director whose films include Yaaba (1989)
* Pierre Rouamba (1951–2023)

## Politicians

* Boureima Badini, Minister of Justice from 1999 to 2007
* Laurent Bado, member of the National Rebirth Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Ali Barraud, Minister of Public Health and Population for Upper Volta
* Djibril Bassolé (born 1957), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation from June 2007
* Blaise Bassoleth (1920–1976), member of the French Senate from 1958 to 1959
* Juliette Bonkoungou (born 1954), Burkinabé ambassador to Canada
* Blaise Compaoré (born 1951), President of Burkina Faso from 1987
* Simon Compaoré (born 1952), Mayor of Ouagadougou
* Joseph Conombo (1917–2008), President of Upper Volta from 1978 to 1980
* Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly (1909–1958), president of governing council of Upper Volta from 1957 to 1958
* Toubé Clément Dakio (born 1939), member of the Union for Democracy and Development party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Noellie Marie Béatri Damiba (born 1951), journalist and diplomat
* Bernadette Sanou Dao (born 1952), Burkinabé Minister for Culture from 1986 to 1987
* Frédéric Guirma, politician, head of the RDA and 2001 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Emile Ilboudo, ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire
* Nayabtigungu Congo Kaboré (born 1948), leader of the Movement for Tolerance and Progress party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (born 1957), President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso
* Michel Kafando (born 1942), Burkinabé ambassador to the United Nations
* Joseph Ki-Zerbo (1922–2006), politician, historian, writer and activist
* Begnon-Damien Kone (1921/1922–1986), member of the French Senate from 1958 to 1959
* Lompolo Koné (1921–1974), Foreign Minister of Upper Volta from 1961 to 1966
* Yabre Juliette Kongo (born 1966), member of National Assemblu
* Zakalia Koté, Minister of Justice from 2007 to 2011
* Sangoulé Lamizana (1916–2005), President of Upper Volta from 1966 to 1980
* Ali Lankoandé, member of the Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Ablassé Ouedraogo, Regional Adviser for Africa within the African Development Bank and former foreign minister for Burkina Faso
* Gérard Kango Ouédraogo (1925–2014), Prime Minister for Upper Volta from 1971 to 1974
* Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, member of the Pan-African Parliament
* Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo (born 1942), President of Upper Volta from 1982 to 1983
* Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo (born 1953), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 1996 to 2000, Burkinabé ambassador to the United Kingdom
* Philippe Ouédraogo (born 1942), leader of the African Independence Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Ram Ouédraogo (born 1950), member of the Rally of the Democrats of Burkina party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Youssouf Ouédraogo (born 1952), first Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, serving from 1992 to 1994
* Pargui Emile Paré, member of the People's Movement for Socialism/Federal Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Bouri Sanhouidi (born 1949), diplomat
* Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara (born 1959), president of the Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Movement party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
* Thomas Sankara (1949–1987), first President of Burkina Faso serving from 1984 to 1987, also president of Upper Volta from 1983 to 1984
* Thomas Sanon (born 1947), businessman, politician, diplomat
* Clément Sawadogo, Minister of the Civil Service, Labour and Social Security
* Marie Blandine Sawadogo, member of the Pan African Parliament
* Salimata Sawadogo (born 1958), Burkinabé ambassador to several African countries
* Laurent Sedego (born 1956), former military officer and cabinet member
* Nouhoun Sigue (1911–2004), member of the French Senate from 1948 to 1952
* Diongolo Traore (1914–1971), member of the French Senate from 1952 to 1958
* Hermann Yaméogo (born 1948), leader of the National Union for the Defence of Democracy party
* Maurice Yaméogo (1921–1993), first President of Upper Volta, serving from 1983 to 1984
* Salvador Yaméogo, Minister of Transportation and Tourism
* Oubkiri Marc Yao, member of the Pan African Parliament
* Larba Yarga, member of the Pan African Parliament
* Paramanga Ernest Yonli (born 1956), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 2000 to 2007
* Marlène Zebango, Minister for Youth and Sports from 1991 to 1993
* Saye Zerbo (1932–2013), President of Upper Volta from 1980 to 1982
* Tertius Zongo (born 1957), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from June 2007
* Alain Zoubga (born 1953), medical doctor and leader of the Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party

## Sportspeople

* Joris Bado (born 1991), basketball player
* Oumar Barro (born 1974), sluo player
* Tanguy Barro (born 1982), soccer player
* Abdoulaye Cissé (born 1983), soccer player
* Brahima Cissé (born 1976), soccer player
* Daouda Compaoré (born 1973), soccer player
* Henoc Conombo (born 1986), soccer player
* Amadou Coulibaly (born 1984), soccer player
* Moumouni Dagano (born 1981), soccer player
* Maxime D'Hoore (born 1978), soccer player
* Mohamed Ali Diallo, soccer player
* Salif Dianda (born 1987), soccer player
* Madou Dossama (born 1972), soccer player
* Ibrahim Gnanou (born 1986), former soccer player
* Jean-Michel Liade Gnonka (born 1980), soccer player
* Abdoul Aziz Kaboré (born 1994), soccer player
* Mohamed Kaboré (born 1980), DAVE
* Bèbè Kambou (born 1982), soccer player
* Pascal Karama (born 1993), soccer player
* Mahamoudou Kéré (born 1982), soccer player
* Nathanio Kompaoré (born 2001), soccer player
* Yssouf Koné (born 1982), soccer player
* Brahima Korbeogo (born 1975), soccer player
* Pierre Koulibaly (born 1986), soccer player
* Moustapha Kourouma (born 1977), soccer player
* Dieudonné Minoungou (born 1981), soccer player
* Toussaint Natama (born 1982), soccer player
* Abdoul-Aziz Nikiema (born 1985), soccer player
* Amara Ahmed Ouattara (born 1983), soccer player
* Boureima Ouattara (born 1984), soccer player
* Moussa Ouattara (born 1981), soccer player
* Ali Ouédraogo (born 1976), soccer player
* Rabaki Jérémie Ouédraogo (born 1973), road racing cyclist
* Rahim Ouédraogo (born 1980), soccer player
* Saïdou Panandétiguiri (born 1984), soccer player
* Jonathan Pitroipa (born 1986), soccer player
* Florent Rouamba (born 1986), soccer player
* Firmin Sanou (born 1973), soccer player
* Idrissa Sanou (born 1977), sprinter
* Olivier Sanou (born 1975), high jumper and triple jumper
* Abroubagui Salbre (born 1993), soccer player
* Ousmane Sanou (born 1978), soccer player
* Wilfried Sanou (born 1984), soccer player
* Cheick Sanou (born 1992), Strongman
* Abdoulaye Soulama (born 1974), soccer player
* Amadou Tidiane Tall (born 1975), soccer player
* Mamadou Tall (born 1982), soccer player
* Soumaila Tassembedo (born 1983), soccer player
* Amadou Touré (born 1979), soccer player
* Alain Traoré (born 1988), soccer player
* Bertrand Traoré (born 1995), soccer player
* Lamine Traoré (born 1982), soccer player
* Ousmane Traoré (born 1977), soccer player
* Seydou Traoré (born 1970), soccer player
* Narcisse Yaméogo (born 1980), soccer player
* Franck Zio (born 1971), long jumper
* Issa Zongo (born 1980), soccer player
* Mamadou Zongo (born 1980), soccer player
* Patrick Zoundi (born 1982), soccer player

## Writers

See: List of Burkinabé writers

## Others

* Georgie Badiel, model, beauty queen, activist and author
* Fatouma Bintou Djibo, United Nations representative in Niger
* Marie Odile Bonkoungou-Balima, former Minister for Education and ambassador to Germany
* Chantal Compaoré, wife of Burkinabé President Blaise Compaoré
* Gabin Dabiré, musician
* Christine Kafando, HIV/AIDS activist
* Diébédo Francis Kéré, architect and founding principal of Kéré Architecture
* Bil Aka Kora, musician
* Mogho Naba, King of the Mossi people
* Roukiata Ouedraogo, playwright and actress
* Philippe Ouédraogo (cardinal) (born 1945)
* Philomaine Nanema, aka Philo (born 1982), comedian and actress
* Yennenga, legendary African princess, mother of the Mossi people
* Henri Zongo (died 1989), military officer involved in the 1987 coup d'état in Burkina Faso
* Ousmane Zongo (1960–2003), arts trader killed by American police officers in New York City
* Lassina Zerbo (born 1963), Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
* Hamidou Toure (born 1954), mathematician who has played a significant role in the development of mathematics programs in Burkina Faso, from the pre-school level to university level.