A major focus is the rise of the Mossi kingdoms—Ouagadougou, Yatenga, and Tenkodogo—between 1000 and 1800 CE. These centralized states, ruled by the Moro Naba, built strong military systems, maintained deep cultural traditions, and resisted domination by powerful empires such as Mali and Songhai. Their longevity and resilience shaped much of the region’s political identity.
The paper then explores early long-distance trade and contact with North Africa through the trans-Saharan routes, noting that Islam spread slowly into northern regions while the Mossi states preserved their indigenous spiritual systems.
The arrival of the French in the late 19th century led to the defeat of the Mossi kingdoms and the formation of the colony known as Upper Volta. Colonial administration imposed forced labor, reorganized the economy around cash crops, and used Voltaic soldiers extensively in both World Wars. After being dissolved in 1932, Upper Volta was restored in 1947, contributing to the emergence of political awareness and demands for independence.
Upper Volta gained independence in 1960, but the first decades brought political instability, economic challenges, and recurring coups as leaders tried to balance development with external influence.
A turning point came in 1983 when Thomas Sankara took power. His revolutionary government renamed the country Burkina Faso and launched powerful social reforms—including mass vaccinations, women’s rights, environmental restoration, education expansion, and policies of economic self-reliance. Although his era was short-lived, Sankara’s impact remains one of the most significant in the country’s modern history.
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