Burkina Faso: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities President Compaoré Is Deposed Geography Slightly larger than Colorado, Burkina Faso, formerly known as Upper Volta, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Its neighbors are Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, and Ghana. The country consists of extensive plains, low hills, high savannas, and a desert area in the north. Government Parliamentary. History Burkina Faso was originally inhabited by the Bobo, Lobi, and Gurunsi peoples, with the Mossi and Gurma peoples immigrating to the region in the 14th century. The lands of the Mossi empire became a French protectorate in 1897, and by 1903 France had subjugated the other ethnic groups. Called Upper Volta by the French, it became a separate colony in 1919, was partitioned among Niger, the Sudan, and Côte d'Ivoire in 1932, and was reconstituted in 1947.

An autonomous republic within the French Community, Upper Volta became independent on Aug. 5, 1960. President Maurice Yameogo was deposed on Jan. 3, 1966, by a military coup led by Col. Sangoulé Lamizana, who dissolved the national assembly and suspended the constitution. Constitutional rule returned in 1978 with the election of an assembly and a presidential vote in June in which Gen. Lamizana won by a narrow margin over three other candidates. On Nov. 25, 1980, Col. Sayé Zerbo led a bloodless coup that toppled Lamizana. In turn, Maj. Jean-Baptist Ouedraogo ousted Zerbo on Nov. 7, 1982. But the real revolutionary change occurred the following year when a 33-year-old flight commander, Thomas Sankara, took control. A Marxist-Leninist, he challenged the traditional Mossi chiefs, advocated women's liberation, and allied the country with North Korea, Libya, and Cuba.

To sever ties to the colonial past, Sankara changed the name of the country in 1984 to Burkina Faso, which combines two of the nation's languages and means “the land of upright men.” While Sankara's investments in schools, food production, and clinics brought some improvement in living standards, foreign investment declined, many businesses left the country, and unhappy labor unions began strikes. On Oct. 15, 1987, formerly loyal soldiers assassinated Sankara. His best friend and ally Blaise Compaoré became president. Compaoré immediately set about “rectifying” Sankara's revolution. In 1991, he agreed to economic reforms proposed by the World Bank. A new constitution paved the way for elections in 1991, which Compaoré won easily, although opposition parties boycotted. In 1998, he was reelected by a landslide. A coup against the president was foiled in 2003, and he was reelected a third time in 2005.

Prime Minister Yonli resigned in June 2007 and was replaced by Tertius Zongo, who has served as the ambassador to the United States and as the country's finance minister. Violent protests by soldiers and police in the capital of Ouagadougou, sparked by low pay and unpaid housing allowances, were answered by President Blaise Compaore with a new government and a new head of the armed forces in the spring of 2011. In Jan. 2013, Prime Minister Luc Adolphe Tiao's new government was announced; the main portfolios remain unchanged. Burkina Faso, Africa : A Tourism, Travel, and information Guide to Burkina : Basecamp International The island destination of Basseterre is the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies... a classic Caribbean getaway. Introduction to Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation in West Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the south east, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the south west.

A 2002 estimate of Burkina Faso's population came in at 12,603,185. Its inhabitants are known as Burkinabè. Formerly the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed on August 4, 1984 by President Thomas Sankara to mean "the land of upright people" (or "upright land") in Mossi and Dioula, the major native languages of the country. A impoverished country, several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana in search of paid labour. Trivia & Quick Points: Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Burkina is ranked one of the poorest countries in the world and also as the most illiterate. Burkina is an excellent destination for anyone interested in seeing beautiful West African country and exploring African culture and music.

Facts & Information: History Like all of the west of Africa, Burkina Faso was populated early, notably by hunter-gatherers in the northwestern part of the country (12,000 to 5000 BC), and whose tools (scrapers, chisels and arrowheads) were discovered in 1973. Settlements appeared between 3600 and 2600 BC with farmers, the traces of whose structures leave the impression of relatively permanent buildings. The use of iron, ceramics and polished stone developed between 1500 and 1000 BC, as well as a preoccupation with spiritual matters, as shown by the burial remains which have been discovered. Relics of the Dogon are found in the centre-north, north and north west region. They left the area between the 15th and 16th centuries BC to settle in the cliffs of Bandiagara. Elsewhere, the remains of high walls are localised in the southwest of Burkina Faso (as well as in the Côte d'Ivoire), but the people who built them have not yet been definitely identified.

Burkina Faso was a very important economic region for the Songhai Empire during the 15th and 16th centuries. From colony to independence In 1896, the Mossi kingdom of Ouagadougou became a French protectorate after being defeated by French forces. In 1898, the majority of the region corresponding to Burkina Faso today was conquered. In 1904, these territories were integrated into French West Africa in the heart of the Upper-Senegal-Niger (Haut-Sénégal-Niger) colony. Its inhabitants participated in the First World War in the heart of the battalions of the Senegalese Infantry (Tirailleurs sénégalais). It was originally administered as part of Côte d'Ivoire colony, but became a separate colony in 1919. On March 1, 1919, François Charles Alexis Édouard Hesling became the first governor of the new colony of Upper-Volta, which was broken up September 5, 1932, being shared between the Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger.

On September 4, 1947 Upper-Volta was recreated with its 1932 boundaries. On December 11, 1958, it achieved self-government, and became a republic and member of the Franco-African Community (La Communauté Franco-Africaine). Full independence was attained in 1960. The country's first military coup occurred in 1966; it returned to civilian rule in 1978. There was another coup, led by Saye Zerbo in 1980, which in turn was overthrown in 1982. A counter-coup was launched in 1983, which left Captain Thomas Sankara in charge. Politics Long time Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaoré October 31st, 2014 photo of Colonel Issaac Zida commander Presidential guard and Army comander announce ouster of Blaise... Kampala, Uganda The current president is Blaise Compaoré, who came to power in 1987 after a coup d'état that killed Thomas Sankara.

BREAKING NEWS, NOVEMBER 2014: NEW PRESIDENT OF BURKINA Read more here: Burkina Faso Army Backs Presidential Guard Official to Lead Transition ... which assumes a reconsideration of the constitution of June 2, 1991, which established: a semi-presidential government with a parliament (Assemblée) which can be dissolved by the President of the Republic, who is elected for a term of 5 years. The year 2000 saw a constitutional amendment reducing the presidential term from 7 to 5 years, which was enforced during the 2005 elections. - The parliament consists of two chambers: the lower house (l'Assemblée Nationale) and the upper house (la Chambre des Représentants). There is also a constitutional chamber, composed of ten members, and an economic and social council whose roles are purely consultative. - The administrative divisions of Burkina Faso are divided into 13 regions, 45 provinces, and 301 departments. Culture Probably the thing Burkina Faso is most famous for is its music and drumming culture. What a great country to visit if you are interested in learning West African drumming!

As with music, art is also part of the culture of Burkina Faso. The country hosts the International Arts and Crafts Fair, Ouagadougou, better known by its French name as SIAO, Le Salon International de L'Artisanat de Ouagadougou , one of the most important African handicraft fairs in the world. Climate Burkina Faso has a primarily tropical climate with two very distinct seasons: the rainy season with between 24-35 inches (600 and 900 mm) of rainfall, and the dry season during which the harmattan blows, a hot dry wind from the Sahara. The rainy season lasts approximately 4 months, May/ June to September, and is shorter in the north of the country. Geography The average altitude is 400 metres (1,300 ft) and the difference between the highest and lowest terrain is no greater than 600 metres (2,000 ft). Burkina Faso is therefore a relatively flat country, with a very few localised exceptions.

Burkina Faso is made up of two major types of countryside: -The larger part of the country is covered by a peneplain which forms a gently undulating landscape with, in some areas, a few isolated hills, the last vestiges of a precambrian massif. - The south-west of the country forms a sandstone massif, where the highest peak is found: Ténakourou (749 m, 2,450 ft). The massif is bordered by sheer cliffs up to 150 metres (490 ft.) high. SEE OUR BURKINA MAPS SECTION Hydrography The country owed its former name of Upper Volta to three rivers which cross it: le Mouhoun (formerly called the Black Volta), le Nakambé (the White Volta) and le Nazinon (the Red Volta). Le Mouhoun, along with la Comoé which flows to the south west, is the country's only river which flows year-round. The basin of the Niger River also drains 27% of the country's surface.

Its tributaries (le Béli, le Gorouol, le Goudébo and le Dargol) are seasonal streams, and only flow for 4 to 6 months a year but can cause large floods. The country also contains numerous lakes. The principal lakes are Tingrela, Bam and Dem, and the large ponds of Oursi, Béli, Yomboli, and Markoye. Water shortages are often a problem, especially in the north of the country. Economy One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. It is ranked as the 28th poorest nation, among other nations such as the Republic of the Congo and Tajikistan, represented numerically in its low GDP per capita income of $1,300. This can be explained by its population growth and its arid soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Agriculture represents 32% of its gross domestic product and occupies 80% of the working population.

It consists mostly of livestock but also, especially in the south and southwest, of growing sorghum, millet, maize (corn), peanuts, rice, and cotton. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations, most specifically in its mineral exploitation of copper, iron, manganese, and, above all, gold. The effects are corruption and financial disparity. (The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer) A large part of the economic activity of the country is funded by international aid. Lack of work causes a high rate of emigration: for example, three million people from Burkina Faso live in Côte d'Ivoire. According to the Central Bank of Western African States (La Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest), these migrants send tens of billions of CFA francs back to Burkina Faso each year. Demographics United Nations Square in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Burkina Faso has an estimated life expectancy at birth of slightly under 50 years of age. The median age of its inhabitants is under 17.

The Population growth rate is 2.71% (2000 est.) Population estimates take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected. The July 2000 estimated 11,946,065 Burkinabè belong to two major West African cultural groups-the Voltaic and the Mande. The Voltaic are far more numerous and include the Mossi, who make up about one-half of the population. Additionally, about 5,000 Europeans live in Burkina Faso. The population is concentrated in the south and center of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometer (125/sq.mi). This high population density, causes annual migrations of hundreds of thousands, for seasonal employment. Approximately 50% of the population is Muslim; Christians account for about 30%, and followers of traditional African religions (typically animism of various forms) make up about 20%. Many Christians and Muslims incorporate elements of animism into their religious practices.

Education Education in Burkina Faso is structured primary, secondary, and higher education. Education is technically free and officially mandatory until the age of 16, however few Burkinabè have had formal education. Though schooling is free, attendance is not enforced, and only about 35% of Burkina's primary school-age children receive a basic education. Institutions of higher education include the University of Ouagadougou and The Polytechnical University in Bobo-Dioulasso. There is also an International School of Ouagadougou, which is an American based private school, which is situated in the capital city, Ouagadougou. The United Nations Development Program Report places Burkina Faso as the most illiterate country in the world, with only a 12.8% literacy rate. Burkina Faso travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Burkina Faso is one of the friendliest and, until recently, one of the safest, countries in all of Africa. Although it receives only a small number of tourists per year, it is an excellent destination for anyone interested in seeing a beautiful West African country and exploring African culture and music.

History[ edit ] Until the end of the 19th century, the history of Burkina Faso was dominated by the empire-building Mossi. The French arrived and claimed the area in 1896, but Mossi resistance ended only with the capture of their capital Ouagadougou in 1901. The colony of Upper Volta was established in 1919, but it was dismembered and reconstituted several times until the present borders were recognized in 1947. Independence from France came to Upper Volta, which was renamed Burkina Faso under the leadership of Thomas Sankara, otherwise known as the "Che Guevara" of Africa, in 1984. Under Sankara's presidency, he initiated one of the most ambitious programmes for social and economic change ever attempted in Africa. In order to achieve his goals, he exerted authoritarian control over the nation, which although was successful in bringing significant economic and social changes to the country, did not protect the country from political troubles and relationships with the West and neighboring countries had significantly deteriorated.

In 1987, almost three years into Sankara's presidency, a coup was led by Blaise Compaoré (Sankara's colleague) and executed Sankara along with twelve of his officers. Following the coup Compaoré immediately reversed the nationalizations, overturned nearly all of Sankara's policies, and assumed the presidency. During Compaoré's presidency, things did not improve during his years of office, and the Burkinabe opposition frequently boycotted the elections by alleging that they were rigged. In October 2014, Compaoré fled to Ivory Coast after he had attempted to extend his 27 year presidency, and continues to remain there in exile. Constant political unrest and troubles, ineffective governance, along with a poor educational system, poor soils and a lack of infrastructure has left Burkina Faso as one of the world's poorest countries. Despite this, the situation appears to be improving under a new government and how far will the new government better the country is open to interpretation. People[ edit ] Burkina Faso's seventeen million people belong to two major West African cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mande (whose common language is Dioula).

The Voltaic Mossi make up about one-half of the population. The Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated to present-day Burkina Faso from Ghana and established an empire that lasted more than 800 years. Predominantly farmers, the Mossi kingdom is still led by the Mogho Naba, whose court is in Ouagadougou. While over 60 ethnic groups (and just as many languages) can be found in Burkina, the country may also be divided into these primary ethnic regions: Touareg: Extreme north Peul/Fulani: Far north, just south of the Tourags Gourmantché: East Mossi: Central plateau centred around Ouagadougou and stretching north to Ouahigouya and south to the Ghanaian border Gourounsi: Southern Burkina Faso between Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso Lobi: South-west along the borders with Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire Bobo/Dioula: West centered around Bobo-Dioulasso Senoufo: Southwest along the borders with Mali and Côte d'Ivoire Burkina Faso is an ethnically integrated, secular state.

Most of Burkina's people are concentrated in the south and centre of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometre (125 mi²). Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana . These flows of workers are obviously affected by external events; the civil war in Cote d'Ivoire have meant that hundreds of thousands of Burkinabé returned to Burkina Faso. A plurality of Burkinabé are Muslim, but most also adhere to traditional African religions. The introduction of Islam to Burkina Faso was initially resisted by the Mossi rulers. Christians, both Roman Catholics and Protestants, comprise about 25% of the population, with their largest concentration in urban areas. Few Burkinabé have had formal education. Schooling is in theory free and compulsory until the age of 16, but only about 54% of Burkina's primary school-age children are enrolled in primary school due to actual costs of school supplies and school fees and to opportunity costs of sending a child who could earn money for the family to school.

The University of Ouagadougou, founded in 1974, was the country's first institution of higher education. The Polytechnical University in Bobo-Dioulasso was opened in 1995. The University of Koudougou was founded in 2005 to substitute for the former teachers' training school, Ecole Normale Superieure de Koudougou. Economy[ edit ] One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of macroeconomic progress depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment. Burkina's economy has suffered badly because of political troubles, and because it is so poor, about two thirds of the population are forced to go abroad to find jobs.

Burkina imports most of the goods and the resources it consumes. Visa[ edit ] Passport and a visa are required to enter the country. It may be best to obtain your visa in advance, and make sure that it is allowed for the period you're travelling as, for several reasons including epidemics, tourism is not allowed in the country in some periods. If coming by plane to Ouagadougou, the prices of the visa on entry have increased hugely since October 2013, with single-entry visas costing 94,000 CFA, and multi-entry visas costing 122,000 CFA. Complaints that your embassy website has lower prices will do no good as the notice with the new pricing scheme is signed by the police, and the visa itself even has the price listed on it. It may be cheaper to get the visa in your home country beforehand. Payment is accepted in euros at a reasonable exchange rate, with the single entry visa costing 150€. If coming by land EU and US citizens are able to get a seven day single entry visa for XOF10,000 at the border.

As of 1 Jul 2010, at the border to Ghana at Paga, they increased the price to XOF94,000, payable in cash (and the exchange rate offered at the border was 10-20% lower than market rates). No passport photos were required. They only were able to issue a 90 day visa. 2 passport photos and a yellow fever certificate are required (border crossing at Paga, in July 2010, did not ask for yellow fever certificate). Border police said that COF10,000 visas were still available, but back in Accra. Border police also said that the 90 day visa was convertible at no cost to a 5 year visa for a USA passport in Ouagadougou. Visas may be extended to 3 months multiple entry at the Bureau de Sureté de l'Etat which can be found in most major cities. To get the extension you should arrive before 09:00 (again with 2 passport photographs) and collect your passport again that afternoon.

As of March 2014, the Embassy in Bamako, Mali, issued 90-day multi-entry for 31000CFA (1/3 the border price.) Two photos were required, but they can take them for you at the embassy, 4 for 2500CFA. Pick up the next day. The BF embassy in Washington offers six-month, multiple-entry visas for US$100. US citizens only are eligible for a five-year, multiple-entry visa for US$100. US flights: Brussels Airlines (part of ' Star Alliance ') and Royal Air Maroc offer US flights departing from New York , San Francisco , and Los Angeles and Washington D.C. . Air Burkina is the national carrier and offers a number of flights within West Africa and to Paris. Air Burkina is part of Celestair which also owns stakes in Compagnie Aerienne du Mali and newly created Uganda Airways. Planes are for the most part new and well maintained. Flight times are unreliable but, once in the air, service is good.

Like many African airlines, although flights may indicate only one destination, ie direct flight from Ouagadougou, there are often multiple stops along the way to pick-up and drop-off passengers. Most flights to Burkina with foreign carriers will also stop at Niger's capital, Niamey, just 1 hour away from Ouagadougou, to collect more passengers or disembark others, so expect a 2-hour stopover on the same plane. Upon arrival, you may be asked to prove you've been vaccinated against Yellow Fever if you are travelling from within Africa. Failure to provide proof may result in either being forced to receive the vaccination at the airport, for a fee, or be refused entry into the country. You will be scanned and photographed and finger-digitized upon entry, and upon leaving controls will be even worse. Your baggage and your persona will be checked multiple times prior to boarding, often repeating the same procedure over and over, to the point of nonsense (an officer having just left you, six feet away another, differently attired officer will pick you up repeating the whole procedure once again: hand baggage check, passport check, casual questions, metal detector).

Upon arriving at the airport carousel to claim your luggage, a number of men in uniforms will want to take your luggage out for you. They will expect to receive about 500 CFAs (USD1) per bag (at least from an expat). Unfortunately, it is difficult for them to exchange anything other than a US$20 bill. Euros are a bit easier for them to change, but it is best if you bring exact change in CFAs. By train[ edit ] There is a 517 km railway stretch from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border. Count c. 48 hr a train trip duration from Abidjan to Ouagadougou, and slightly less than 24 hr for the trip duration from Bouake to Banfora. In August 2007, the cost trip from Abidjan to Ouaga was 30,000 CFA, with 5000 CFA more for First Class, which is not always available. By car[ edit ] Even wealthy Burkinabé who own cars do not use them to travel between major cities, but opt for buses instead.

The major routes between Ouagadougou and other cities are in good condition; taxi drivers can be erratic. By bus[ edit ] You can also conveniently take the bus in and out of Burkina to and from the neighbouring countries of Ghana, Mali, and Benin. There are buses and vans (cars) to Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Togo. There is a train service for the Abidjan-Banfora-Bobo-Ouaga route. Hitchhiking is not common. Talk[ edit ] French is the official language; obviously, outside the big cities, most people are not so fluent in French as the city-dwellers. Many African languages of the Sudanic family are widely spoken. The most common language is Mooré. Do not expect to get around with English as in most other parts of the world: West Africa is mainly Francophone, and English is virtually unknown. Most Burkinabè will speak a mixture of French and Dioula dialects among themselves. The more they know each other, the more Dioula will pop up in their talking, and vice-versa.

Among wealthy locals and government/company officials though, only French is spoken, as reverting to Dioula is considered low-class. Beware that the accent and word use in the French spoken in West Africa is quite different to that spoken in France, and can present difficulties if your French is not very strong. See[ edit ][ add listing ] Laongo is home to a variety of sculptures by local and international artists The park's scattered pieces of granite have been transformed into beautiful works of art The Sindou Peaks in Banfora consists of a narrow chain of soft rock that over the years has been eroded into unusual rock formations Festivals[ edit ] Burkina Faso is the home of music in West Africa. Festival International de la Culture Hip Hop (International Festival of Hip Hop Culture)—Ouagadougou & Bobo-Dioulasso; October; Two weeks of Hip Hop performances Festival Jazz (Jazz Festival)—Ouaga & Bobo; April/May; Features big names from around the continent Festival des Masques et des Arts (FESTIMA; Arts & Masks Festival)—Dédougou; March of even-numbered years; Hundreds of troupes of mask dancers from across West Africa perform.

Festival Panafricain du Cinéma (FESPACO;Panafrican Film Festival)—Ouaga; Feb/Mar of odd-numbered years; Africa's largest film festival held every other year brings stars and filmmakers from across the continent. Semaine Nationale de la Culture (National Culture Week)—Bobo; March/April; music, dance, theatre, & masquerades fill the air this week in Bobo Do[ edit ][ add listing ] There is a remarkably rich music scene in Burkina (as well as in the adjoining countries), with lots of reggae, salsa, soukous and traditional orchestras and bands playing in a lot of venues, both well known and hidden. Any local will gladly take you to some events where men and women eat, drink, dance and have a good time in a very safe, almost childlike manner, rather uncommon nowadays in western countries. Starting in Gorom Gorom, you can take a camel ride out into the desert and even sleep out there on the sand. Guides can arrange this for you from Gorom Gorom and it can be expensive if you do not pick your guides carefully. Take warm clothes and good blankets if you plan to sleep in the desert.

Women should bring pants to wear on camels because skirts (especially African pagnes) tend to fall open due to the shape of the saddle. There is a beautiful hike alongside the waterfalls outside of Banfora. The admission price is one or two thousand francs. Be careful not to spend too much time in the water - tourists occasionally catch bilharzia, also known as Schistosomiasis, from swimming in the falls. The locals will tell you that swimming will not make you sick, but it can. Also near Banfora is a lake (more of a pond, actually) where you can take a trip out on a pirogue to see the hippos. Do not expect too much. Often all you see of the hippos is ears sticking up out of the water. Remember, hippos are dangerous animals who do not like being bumped by pirogues that get too close, so be careful. This will cost two or three thousand CFA per person. A couple of hours West of Banfora is Sindou, with the Sindou peaks. These rock formations are somewhat like the North American hoodoos. They are needle-like peaks that have shaped by wind erosion.

The Sindou peaks are a great spot for a short hike or a picnic. A guide is not necessary to find your way around but can tell you many fascinating facts about Senoufo culture and the time when the village, which is now at the base of the peaks, used to be located up on the plateau. Look out for the thorn plants on the plateau - the Senoufo imported them from Mali to use the thorns to make poisoned arrows. Admission is 1000 CFA. You will need to give the guide a tip. Buy fabric and get an African outfit made. In Ouagadougou, you will pay 3750 CFA for "three pagnes" of fabric. You can then take this to a tailor and have three items made - for women this is usually a shirt and skirt then a length of fabric left over to make a wrap-around skirt. Men can have shirts made. The going rate for a woman's outfit and skirt is 3500 CFA. Fancier models and embroidery will cost extra, as much as 20,000 CFA if you want elaborate embroidery.

See the crocodiles at one of the crocodile lakes outside of Ouaga, on the road to Bobo-Dioulasso. Explore the mud mosque in Bobo-Dioulasso. An Imam's son can serve as your guide. Remove your shoes at the entrance. Dress modestly. Women should be prepared to cover their heads, although this is not always requested. You will need to pay admission (1000 CFA), give a tip to the guide and give a tip to the kid who guards your shoes while you are inside. Explore the elaborate mosques in Bani, near Dori on the road to Ouaga. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Good markets exist in Bobo Dioulasso, Dori, Gorom-Gorom, Ouahigouya and Ouagadougou. Bargaining in traditional marketplaces is recommended. Purchases include wooden statuettes, bronze models, masks, worked skins from the tannery in Ouagadougou, jewellery, fabrics, hand-woven blankets and leather goods and crafts ranging from chess sets to ashtrays. The Grande Marché in Bobo Dioulasso is a much smaller and less cramped market.

The Village Artisanal near the SIAO centre in the ring road of Ouagadougou has lots of arts & craft shops where you can conveniently find all sorts of very nice objects such as traditional clothing, sandals, costume jewellery, furniture items, decoratives, and much more to buy at slightly higher but still very reasonable prices. There is an exchange office close to the gate where you can also withdraw money from your card. Keep the receipts for any art you buy, as they need to be presented upon exit at the gate. Currency[ edit ] As in seven other independent West African countries, the currency of Burkina Faso is the franc of the Communauté Financière Africaine (CFA), symbolised as XOF. It's fixed relative to the euro: €1 = XOF655.957. In Jan 2015, USD1 = XOF585 Credit cards are rarely accepted, but cash may be withdrawn with a card at certain banks in all major towns (Ouaga, Bobo, Banfora, Dori, and Ouahigouya are confirmed).

In general, most bank machines will accept only VISA cards, with a PIN or a CarteBleu. However, the ATMs of Banque Atlantique in Ouagadougou will accept MasterCard so look for those if you want to withdraw cash with your MasterCard. Make sure you have a PIN for your credit card in order to access money from the bank machines. Travellers' cheques (better luck in euros than in dollars) can usually be cashed at local banks in Ouaga and Bobo, but with large change fees. For the cost of $5.00 you can send yourself or others a Moneygram to get money in country. If you don't use it, you can cancel the Moneygram and get your money back. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Any run-of-the-mill Burkinabé restaurant will most certainly have one or all of the following: Riz Gras = Rice cooked in flavored stock, often with onion. Sometimes served with extra sauce on top, but not a given. Somtimes served with a chunk of meat, or fish.

it is a very small-grain rice, very similar to couscous, and prepared in a likewise manner Riz Sauce or Riz Tomate = Pretty self-explanatory. White rice usually served with a tomato or peanut sauce. Tô = a millet or corn flour based jello-like dish served with a sauce. Sauces commonly are okra-based (fr. "sauce gumbo" - tends to be on the viscous-side), peanut-based (fr. "sauce arachide"), baobab-leaf-based (not bad tasting, but very slimy), or sorrel-based (fr. "oseille", another green-leaf, a little sour). You eat this dish by breaking off some tô with a spoon (or, if you want to go local and your hands are washed, use your finger - just remember to use always the right hand, as the left hand is considered "unclean" because it is used for bathroom purposes) and dipping it into the sauce. Difficult to eat for a non-local as it tastes sour and slimy. Definitely an an acquired taste. FuFu = a pizza-dough-like ball of starch served with a sauce.

Made by pounding boiled ignames (sort of a super-sized version of a yucca-potato hybrid). The sauce is usually tomato-based. Eaten in the same manner as tô. Ragout d'Igname = boiled igname in a tomato sauce. Spaghetti = Usually spaghetti is served au gras as opposed to spaghetti sauce. Haricots verts = Green-beans, usually from a can, with tomato sauce Petits pois = Green peas, usually from a can, with tomato sauce Soupe = usually chicken (fr. "poulet"), guinea fowl (fr. "pintade") or fish (fr. "poisson") Salade = a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion with a mayonnaise-based dressing (mayo, vinegar, salt, pepper) A Burkina speciality is "Poulet Telévisé" aka televised chicken, or roast chicken, since many locals say if you watch the roaster it is like watching TV!

Snacks: Beignets = (mooré samsa) fried bean flour Fried ignames, patate douce (sweet potato french fries) Alloco = Bbq'd plantains Brochettes = bbq'd meat sticks, or liver, or tripe, or intestines Porc au four = baked greasy pork bits served with hot sauce (fr. "piment"), salt, and if you are lucky, mustard. Best enjoyed with a Flag beer (to make "champagne", add some tonic) Gateau = fried dough. Comes in all sorts of varieties, best when fresh. Bisap = hibiscus leaf cold sweet tea, sometimes enhanced with mint and/or ginger (25-50 CFA) Yamoku, or Gingembre = sweet ginger drink (25-50 CFA) Toédo, or Pain de singe = sweet and "smoothie-like" in texture. Made from baobab fruit. Yoghurt = sweet dégué = yoghurt mixed with millet balls, sometimes couscous. Dolo = millet beer. Brakina = national Burkina beer, decent and light.

Beaufort = a superior beer also made in Burkina. Learn[ edit ] Burkina is a great country if you are interested in learning West African drumming. Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city, is perhaps the best place to learn to drum. Work[ edit ] If you are interested in helping to save lives in Western Africa then Burkina Faso, hit by severe drought and poverty in the last decade, would be ideal for a charity-holiday. Medical staff are also sorely needed, so any volunteering doctors would be greeted warmly. The Peace Corps is active in Burkina Faso and constitutes a large proportion of the Americans living in this country. Stay safe[ edit ] Burkina Faso is one of safest countries in West Africa. However, be aware of thieves in the big city. Violent assault is rare. Pickpockets and purse snatchers are something to watch out for in big cities, especially in Ouagadougou, where it is recommended not to carry a bag with you when at all possible. The common, cheap green taxis in the big city can sometimes host thieves. Hold on to your purse, and keep your money safely tucked away.

If you want to carry around a camera or other item that requires a bag, it is often safer to put it in one of the ubiquitous black "sachets" (plastic bags) that you get when you purchase something in a store, so that potential thieves will assume there's nothing of great value inside. Even in the capital's streets there are very few beggars, if any, compared to other African countries, and when you do encounter them, they are remarkably un-insisting and will walk away after a simple "No". You should always take precautions when travelling, but Burkina is a remarkably safe and respectful country. Women travellers rarely experience any problems. Foreigners, especially white foreigners, frequently attract significant attention, but the interest is mainly an attempt to sell you tourist items or overpriced goods. Indeed, the Burkinabé will show more patience and friendliness to the foreigner than to another Burkinabé, be it in a small village or in a big city. There was a violent altercation between military and police in Dec 2006. Members from involved parties made it a point to advise foreigners on the street that they should find shelter and stay out of harm's way.

The problem was resolved quickly and no foreigners came to any harm. Stay healthy[ edit ] Yellow fever vaccination required. Malaria is a serious problem, so be sure to begin take prophylaxis prior to leaving for Burkina and continue taking it while there and often for some time after returning home. Cholera vaccination may be required in event of outbreak. Meningitis is also a problem, and vaccination is highly suggested. Typhoid fever is common, as are other water and food-borne diseases such as E coli. Typhoid vaccination is recommended but it is not 100% effective so it is still important to take precautions. The water is NOT safe to drink, especially outside the big cities where untreated well water is often the norm. Buy bottled water, and bring a water filter for emergency use if you're planning on spending time in any villages. In Burkina you will often find little plastic soft "bags" of mineral water rather than plastic bottles. Respect[ edit ] You will observe the Burkinabé exchange greetings in what appears to be a shared prayer or ritual.

Literally, all they are saying is "good morning, how's the family, how's work, how's your health..." Greeting is a very important part of Burkinabé culture, and the only thing you really need to do here is to make an instant friend. Ignoring someone and not greeting him or her, however, is taken far more seriously than in western cultures. It is virtually a slap in the face to ignore someone that has greeted you, or to not greet at all. Foreigners can probably get away with being "cold" and "unfriendly" in some settings, but it is a good idea to greet everyone you pass by. Remember to always use your right hand when eating, greeting, offering gifts, paying for items, etc. This is true in both Muslim and Christian regions, as the left hand is used throughout the country in conjunction with water in place of toilet paper. The ubiquitous coloured plastic teapots are filled with water and carried to the bathroom for "wiping." Women are often targets of extra attention from men, but catcalls and unwanted advances are not appropriate in Burkina, so don't be afraid to refuse this attention. In general, people are very respectful to women and foreigners.

You will very rarely see people scantily dressed, barechested or barefooted in Burkina. It is a conservative country and men will most often wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed shoes even in scorching heat. Women will not be seen with short skirts or very high heels except in some Ouaga night clubs. Shorts are also not common. However women, even poor ones, will always be coiffed and well-kept, manicured and pedicured, and men are well dressed as well. You rarely encounter squalor or excessive misery in Burkina. Burkina Faso Map / Geography of Burkina Faso / Map of Burkina Faso - Worldatlas.com Print this map Burkina Faso, once known as Upper Volta, and as the longtime kingdom of the Mossi people, was first populated between 14,000 and 5,000 BC by hunter-gatherers. Between the 10th and 11th centuries, Mossi tribes immigrated into the region from Ghana , pushing out the original Yonyonse inhabitants, and began creating complex states complete with powerful militaries.

There were a number of Mossi kingdoms within Burkina Faso, the most significant being the Wagadogo (Ouagadougou) and Yatenga, and they survived until the late 19th century. Following a decade of intense rivalry and competition with Britain and France , the Mossi's were defeated by French forces, and subsequently colonized in 1896. In 1958, the region-achieved self-governance, becoming the Republic of Upper Volta, and by 1960 had gained complete independence from France . Subsequently, the Upper Volta suffered from numerous military coups in its early days as a new nation. In 1983 Thomas Sankara, a Burkinabe military captain, Marxist revolutionary and Pan-Africanist theorist, seized power, and became president. Sankara changed the name of Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, meaning "the country of honorable people" on August 4, 1984; he was a widely regarded and charismatic leader whose revolutionary programs for African self-reliance made him an icon to Africa's poor.

In 1987 a French -backed coup overthrew and then assassinated Sankara as a result of his revolutionary ideals, and Captain Blaise Compaore came into power. Dissatisfied with the progression of the country, a new constitution was drafted in 1991, and countrywide elections held the following year - the results of which helped form a stable coalition government. With a high population density and very limited natural resources, most of the citizens remain economically suppressed. Local health conditions are improving, but still generally poor in the rural areas. The country is reported to have the second-highest illiteracy rate on the planet. The death of a schoolboy in early 2011 sparked a country-wide uprising, complete with military mutiny, lasting some two months before they were subdued by a consideration to change the constitution. See Also Burkina Faso Facts > Burkina Faso Facts Compassion has been making a difference in the lives of children in need in Burkina Faso since 2004. Through our work there, we gather Burkina Faso facts about children in need and the community of Burkina Faso.

These Burkina Faso facts and statistics provide a good overview of the reality of poverty and how Compassion is releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. Poverty is a common problem in the country of Burkina Faso but Compassion is working to change this. The Burkina Faso facts tell a discouraging story, but Compassion is bringing hope in the midst of this discouragement. With your involvement, our programs are changing the statistics one child at a time. Don't let the hopelessness of Burkina Faso facts overwhelm you. You can make a difference to a child in Burkina Faso today! Where We Work Prayer Requests Burkina Faso We partner with churches and denominations to help them provide Burkinabé children with the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be. Our work in Burkina Faso began in the summer of 2004. Currently, more than 50,390 children participate in more than 190 child development centers. Sponsor a Child from Burkina Faso Showing results for ( children found): Showing – of children Sorry, there was a problem retrieving the children for this page. Please try again. Sorry, there were no children found.

Please use the search form to find a child to sponsor. Similar Children: How Two Sheep Saved a Family Nov 30, 2016 Aminata never knew if the droughts would kill her crops – or if the rain would wash them away. For Denise Tapsoba, the prospect of another child was more frightening than joyful. Featured on the Blog History Until the end of the 19th century, the history of Burkina Faso was dominated by the empire-building Mossi. The French arrived and claimed the area in 1896, but Mossi resistance ended only with the capture of their capital, Ouagadougou in 1901. The colony of Upper Volta was established in 1919, but it was dismantled and reconstituted several times until the present borders were recognized in 1947. The French administered the area indirectly through Mossi authorities until independence was achieved on Aug. 5, 1960. The first president, Maurice Yameogo, amended the constitution soon after taking office to ban opposition political parties. His government lasted until 1966, when the first of several military coups placed Lt. Col.

Sangoule Lamizana at the head of a government of senior army officers. Lamizana remained in power throughout the 1970s, as president of military and then elected governments. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. In 1984, Upper Volta changed its name to Burkina Faso, meaning "the country of honorable people." Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabé farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries. Source: The World Factbook, 2014 Education The school week runs from Monday through Saturday. Public education is not free and many children's parents cannot afford to send them. There also is a shortage of schools in the country and even those who can afford to send their children may not be able to. According to UNICEF, only 81 percent of students reach the fifth grade.

However, education is very important for the people of Burkina Faso; it is seen as the only vehicle out of poverty. Parents believe that education is the key to a well-paying job and therefore a better future. In Burkina Faso the educated are held in high regard. An educated child has a strong influence in the community and whatever he or she says is accepted and believed compared with a non-educated person's words. Education has strongly contributed to the well-being of the people and the nation. In the recent past, boys had an edge over girls in their ability to obtain an education. But recently, the government policy has been to raise the rate of education for girls. There now tends to be a gender balance regarding who has access to education. Through both formal and non-formal education, all are taught to be respectful, polite, obedient, courageous and hard workers. Responsibility, family values and dignity are emphasized. Religion The constitution provides for freedom of religion and the government does not tolerate its abuse. Islam, Christianity and traditional indigenous religions are practiced freely without government interference. There is no official state religion and the government neither subsidizes nor favors any particular religion.

The practice of a particular faith is not known to entail any advantage or disadvantage in the political arena, the civil service, the military or the private sector. The law provides religious groups freedom of expression in their publications and broadcasts unless the judicial system determines that they are harming public order or committing slander; this has never occurred. Foreign missionary groups operate freely and face no special restrictions. The government neither forbids missionaries from entering the country nor restricts their activities; however, missionary groups occasionally face complicated bureaucratic procedures in pursuit of particular activities. For example, some Christian medical missionaries have difficulty operating in the country because of a partial restriction on foreign physicians. But the restrictions are not aimed at religious groups. Religious instruction is not offered in public schools; it is limited to private schools and to the home. Muslim, Catholic and Protestant groups operate primary and secondary schools. The government monitors both the nonreligious curriculum and the qualifications of teachers employed at these schools. Unlike other private schools, religious schools pay no taxes if they do not conduct any lucrative activities. The government reviews the curriculum of such schools to ensure that religiously oriented schools offer the full standard academic curriculum. Source: International Religious Freedom Report, released in 2012 by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

Culture Art Burkina Faso has more than 60 ethnic groups, each with their own social and cultural distinctions. Art made by the Mossi, Bobo and Lobi are the most famous. The Mossi are known for their antelope masks; the Bobo make large butterfly masks; and the Lobi carve wood. Burkina Faso is a leader in African art and culture and hosts the largest craft market in Africa. Music Burkina Faso is home to 60 different ethnic groups, each with their own variety of folk music. Unlike most African countries, Burkina Faso has not yet had a popular national style. The Semaine Nationale de la Culture, held every two years since 1983, is a music festival that has helped produce the country's few stars, including Kaboré Roger, Simporé Maurice and Black So Man. The Mande people of the southwest are known for balafon (xylophone) music, while the large, centrally located Mossi and their griots retain ancient royal courts and courtly music. The Fulbe of the north use complex vocal techniques with clapping percussion.

Rakiire Because of the diversity of ethnic groups in Burkina Faso, many cultural practices are observed. One of the most important and widespread customs is Rakiire (cross-ethnic joking). Burkina Faso country profile - BBC News BBC News Read more about sharing. Close share panel A poor country even by West African standards, landlocked Burkina Faso has suffered from recurring droughts and military coups. Burkina Faso, which means "land of honest men", has significant reserves of gold, but the country has faced domestic and external concern over the state of its economy and human rights. A former French colony, it gained independence as Upper Volta in 1960. In 1983 Capt Thomas Sankara seized power and adopted radical left-wing policies but was ousted by Blaise Compaore, who went on to rule for 27 years before being ousted in a popular uprising in 2014.

Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring FACTS Area 274,200 sq km (105,870 sq miles) Major languages French, indigenous languages Major religions Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity Life expectancy 55 years (men), 57 years (women) Currency CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc UN, World Bank President: Roch Marc Kabore Image copyright Getty Images Marc Kabore, who served as prime minister and speaker of parliament under veteran President Blaise Compaore, won the November 2015 presidential election, easily beating his main rival. The intervening year before Mr Kabore's election saw considerable turmoil, including an attempted coup by troops loyal to the ousted president in September 2015. A French-educated banker, Mr Kabore sees himself as a social democrat, and has pledged to reduce youth unemployment, improve education and healthcare, and make health provision for children under six free of charge.

Kabore was a long-standing Compaore loyalist, but he quit as chairman of the then-president's Congress for Democracy and Progress party in 2014 over the head of state's plans to amend the constitution to extend his 27-year rule. MEDIA Some key events in Burkina Faso's history: Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Thomas Sankara, also known as "Africa's Che Guevara", seized power in 1983 and tried to introduce major reforms. He was killed in a coup led by his successor Blaise Compaore 896 - Kingdoms now making up Burkina Faso become a French protectorate, later known as Upper Volta. 1960 - Upper Volta becomes independent with Maurice Yameogo as president. He is overthrown in 1966 by Sangoule Lamizana. 1980 - President Lamizana is ousted in coup led by Saye Zerbo, who is overthrown two years later by Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo, ushering in a period of unrest and power struggles. 1984 - Upper Volta renamed Burkina Faso.

1990 - Blaise Compaore, who assumed power when he ousted and killed then-leader Capt Thomas Sankara in 1987, introduces limited democratic reforms. He remains in power for 27 years. 2000 - Government agrees to set up UN-run body to monitor weapons imports after allegations that it has been involved in smuggling arms to rebels in Sierra Leone and Angola. 2011 - Months of unrest, including a mutiny. 2014 - President Compaore steps aside following massive protests against plans to extend his rule. A transitional government takes charge. 2015 - Acting President Kafando faces down coup attempt by presidential guard allies of Blaise Compaore. In November, former Prime Minister Roch Marc Christian Kabore wins presidential election. 2016 - Islamists attack a hotel and cafe frequented by the French military and other expatriates, killing 29 people. 10 facts about Burkina Faso - fun and interesting Burkina Faso facts Ten fun facts about Burkina Faso Fact 1 Burkina Faso (formerly known as Upper Volta) achieved independence from France on August 5, 1960.

Burkina Faso means ï¿½Land of the Honourable People.ï¿½ Fact 2 The national flag has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center. Fact 3 Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and one of the oldest cities on Earth. Fact 4 The Mossi is the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso. They are known for their antelope masks. The official language is French. Other languages spoken are Mï¿½orï¿½, Dioula, Fulfuldï¿½ and others Fact 5 The main export is gold followed by cotton and animal products. Burkina is second only to South Africa in producing biotech crops. Fact 6 The main imports are foodstuffs, petroleum and capital goods. The staple foods are millet, rice, sorghum, maize peanuts, potatoes, yams, bean and okra. Fact 7 Burkina Faso is home to 60 different ethnic groups, each with their own variety of folk music. The popular sports are soccer, handball, basketball, boxing and cycling.

Fact 8 Muslims are about 17.60% of the population while 19% are Catholic, 15% are Animists and 5% are Protestants. Fact 9 The climate in Burkina Faso is tropical with warm dry winters and hot, wet summers. Burkina Faso is prone to severe droughts. Fact 10

Question: How was Burkino Faso previously known?
Answer: UPPER VOLTA