We Are the Heirs of the World's Revolutions: Speeches from the Burkina Faso Revolution 1983-87, 2nd Edition

by Thomas Sankara, Samantha Anderson (Translator)

"Our revolution in Burkina Faso draws on the totality of man's experiences since the first breath of humanity. We wish to be the heirs of all the revolutions of the world, of all the liberation struggles of the peoples of the Third World. We draw the lessons of the American revolution. The French revolution taught us the rights of man. The great October revolution brought victory to the proletariat and made possible the realization of the Paris Commune's dreams of justice."
― Thomas Sankara, October 1984 Thomas Sankara led the revolution of 1983 to 1987 in Burkina Faso. In the five speeches contained in this pamphlet, he explains how the peasants and workers of this West African country established a popular revolutionary government and began to fight the hunger, illiteracy and economic backwardness imposed by imperialist domination, and the oppression of women inherited from millennia of class society. In so doing, they have provided an example not only to the workers and small farmers of Africa, but to those of the entire world. Preface by Mary-Alice Waters, introduction by Michel Prairie, photos, maps, chart, index. Also available French, Spanish, Farsi

Genres: Africa, Politics, History, Nonfiction, Burkina Faso, Theory, Philosophy

111 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabé military captain, Marxist revolutionary, pan-Africanist theorist, anti-colonialist and President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987, in which he lead an historic revolution.

He is widely recognized as the leader Africa always needed : the pan-africanist movement inducted him as a hero since his assassination. Furthermore viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution, he is commonly referred to as "Africa's Che Guevara".

Reviews

[KamRun · Rating 4 out of 5]

من به عنوان سخنگوی کسانی عمل می‌کنم که به عبث بدنبال یک تریبون آزاد در این جهان هستند تا صدایشان شنیده شود. بله! من می‌خواهم به نام همه جهانیان به حال خود وامانده و تنها سخن بگویم، زیرا من یک انسان هستم و هیچ امر انسانی‌ای با من بیگانه نیست. انقلاب ما در بورکینافاسو بدبختی‌های همه مردمان جهان را از آن خود می‌داند. صورت ما هر سیلی‌ای را که در هر نقطه‌ای از جهان به صورت هر بنی‌بشری زده شود حس خواهد کرد. آرزوی ما این است که وارثان همه انقلاب‌های جهان و همه مبارزات رهایی‌بخش خلق‌های جهان سوم باشیم - توماس سانکارا(1984) / سخنرانی در مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل

توماس سانکارا: چه‌گوارای آفریقا

بورکینافاسو (با نام سابق ولتای علیا) برای چند دهه تحت استعمار فرانسه قرار داشت و با آنکه استقلال خود را در سال 1960 بدست آورد، اما دولت آن سیاست‌های نواستعماری را به نفع فرانسه در پیش گرفت. نتیجه‌ی چند دهه استعمار مستقیم و غیرمستقیم بورکینافاسو (عمدتا) توسط فرانسه، تبدیل این کشور به یکی از فقیرترین و عقب‌مانده‌ترین کشورهای جهان است. در حالی که بورکینافاسو چهارمین صادرکننده‌ی طلای قاره‌ی آفریقا و اصلی‌ترین تامین کننده نیروی کار کشورهای جنوبی آفریقاست.

خلاصه‌ی مطلب این است که پس از گذشت 23 سال از عمر نظام نواستعماری در کشورمان، اوضاع این‌گونه است: بهشت برای اندکی و جهنم برای مابقی

توماس سانکارای 33 ساله در سال 1983، انقلاب آفریقای غربی را رهبری کرد که به سقوط دولت نواستعماری و روی کار آمدن نظامی کمونیستی در این کشور انجامید. سانکارا طی 4 سال پس از انقلاب، دست به اصلاحات و توسعه‌ی گسترده‌ی زیرساخت‌های کشور زد که چند مورد برجسته آن، از این قرار است

تلاش جدی جهت برابری حقوق زنان
بسیج ارتش جهت خدمات امدادی، رفاهی و سازندگی
ممنوعیت قطع آلت جنسی زنان
راه‌اندازی نهضت سوادآموزی
ممنوعیت قطع درختان و تخریب پوشش گیاهی
اجباری شدن کاشت درخت در عوض معافیت مالیاتی توسط روستایان کرانه رودخانه‌ها
حمایت از مردم فلسطین، آتش‌بس بین ایران و عراق و همبستگی با نبرد علیه آپارتاید در آفریقای جنوبی

سانکارا در سال 1987، طی کودتایی به رهبری بلز کومپائوره، از رسته‌ی هم‌قطاران پیشینش کشته شد. بلز کومپائوره پس از آن 27 سال به حکومت خود بر بروکینافاسو ادامه داد. اصلی‌ترین متحدان این خائن به دوست و وطن، در میان کشورهای غربی، فرانسه و آمریکا بودند. سانکارا در سخنرانی خود به مناسبت بیستمین سالگرد قتل چه‌گوارا، درست یک هفته پیش از آنکه خود کشته شود این سخنان را به زبان آورد: شاید انقلابیون به عنوان افراد کشته شوند، اما اندیشه‌ها کشتنی نیستند! یا مرگ یا وطن

درباره‌ی کتاب

کتاب حاضر، متن 5 سخنرانی از توماس سانکارا طی سال‌های 1983 تا 1987 است. سانکارا در نخستین سخنرانی تحت عنوان "جامعه‌ای نوین فارغ از بی‌عدالتی اجتماعی و سلطه امپریالیسم" (1983) به وضعیت فعلی کشور، شرح دشمنی‌های امپریالیسم جهانی و خرده‌بورژوازی بورکینافاسو با انقلاب و ریشه‌های انقلاب آفریقا و مسیری که کشور برای شکوفایی پیش رو دارد می‌پردازد. از نقاط مثبت این سخنرانی، اشاره‌ی چندباره‌ی سانکارا به تبعیض علیه زنان است. او در این سخنرانی خواهان ریشه‌کنی همه اشکال تبعیض علیه زنان، بخصوص محرومیت‌های مالی، هویتی و آزار جنسی زنان است. خلاصه‌ای از نظرات سانکارا در ارتباط با تبعیض علیه زنان و لزوم رهایی آنان را می‌توان در کتاب اعتلای زن و انقلاب آفریقا یافت
متن دوم، سخنرانی سانکارا در مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل (1984) است که محتوایش را می‌توان شرح تفصیلی سخنان آغازین سانکارا در مجمع دانست:
من از طرف مردمی آمده‌ام که زین پس حاضر نیستند به سبب جهل، گرسنگی و تشنگی بمیرند. سانکارا در این سخنرانی، پیکان حمله‌ی خود را به سوی امپریالیسم جهانی می‌گیرد که ارمغانی جز فلاکت برای جمع کثیری از مردم دنیا که جهان سوم نامیده شده‌اند، نداشته است. از دیگر نکات درخور توجه این سخنرانی، ادای دین به فیدل کاسترو، درخواست از ایران و عراق جهت پایان جنگ، حمایت بی چون و چرا از مردم فلسطین و آفریقای جنوبی است. نطق سوم تحت عنوان "امپریالیسم، آتش‌افروزی که جنگل‌ها را به آتش می‌کشد" (1986) شیرین‌ترین سخنرانی این کتاب است که سانکارا در آن بر حمایت بی‌قیدُ انقلاب از محیط زیست و نهضت درخت‌کاری تاکید می‌کند. سخنرانی چهارم نیز در همان سال و در مورد اهمیت زبان فرانسه جهت ارتباط با جهانیان و سخنرانی پایانی کتاب که آخرین سخنرانی سانکارا نیز بوده، یک هفته پیش از آنکه ترور شود و در ثنای چه‌گوارا در بیستمین سالگرد مرگ او ایراد گشته است

[Zach Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

We lost Thomas Sankara 36 years ago today - a profound loss for the world and for all of Africa. But as he reminds us (captured in the title of this collection), we are the heirs of the world's revolutions. It's to our immense benefit that the world's revolutions includes Burkinabè, 4 August 1983.

The speech on environmentalism and tree planting was really great, and serves as a great reminder how mobilizing forces in a socialist society can rapidly transform the environment (something we should all be studying with respect to climate change). I also thought it was really great how he talks about the French language and how he and his people have used the colonizer's language against them, as it allowed them to build solidarity with Vietnam and Caledonia.

Because Palestine is front of mind right now, I'll end with Sankara's commitment to the cause of Palestinian liberation at the United Nations:

"Finally, it fills me with indignation to think of the Palestinians, who an inhuman humanity has decided to replace with another people - a people martyred only yesterday. I think of this valiant Palestinian people, that is, these shattered families wandering across the world in search of refuge. Courageous, determined, stoic, and untiring, the Palestinians remind every human conscience of the moral necessity and obligation to respect the rights of a people."

[Hazwany · Rating 5 out of 5]

He debunks the whole idea of capitalism even though he himself is a soldier... He defeats imperialism during his time and after he died, imperialism took over Burkina Faso and poverty & economic backwardness reign again until today.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

For much of the English speaking world the overthrow of a neo-colonial government in Upper Volta (as it then was) by a military-led uprising (I’m sure our media reported it as a coup) failed to register, It’s likely that many would not have been able to locate the country on a map, and for those who did it’s likely we wrote it off as change of regime in a marginal state in the Sahel that didn’t really fit our view of political significance shaped by a view of the world shaped by superpower rivalry. At the time I had a particular interest in developments in West Africa, and I don’t recall it making much of an impact, quite possibly because of the limitations of news sources in that analogue world, but even still the confluence of those Anglo-centric, Orientalist (and I realise the challenges of using that label here), ‘Three World’s Theory’ shaped outlooks mean it didn’t register.

This small collection of speeches by Thomas Sankara, the leader of the new revolutionary government of what was now Burkina Faso, gives a hint of we missed. Here was a government deploying explicitly Marxist language and working largely within the anti-imperialist politics of the era’s left wing national liberation movements doing something slightly but significantly different. The image depicted by these speeches laying out the regime’s programme is one that is explicitly internationalist – we see that even in the title of the collection – but with a powerful critique of both (neo)colonial regimes and a patriarchal order shaping women’s oppression, with a strong environmental consciousness and practice – not surprising given the rate of desertification in Sahel making countries such as Burkina Faso among those earliest to feel the impacts of climate change.

It’s a short collection – barely 100 pages – but one that is worth looking at for evidence of locally grounded revolutionary practice.

[Tom Polek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great introduction to Sankara's work. His pragmatic fight against illiteracy and malnutrition in his country is a great example of how a truly humanistic approach to society can change lives for generations. His speech at the UN in 1984 is both scolding of countries refusing to take responsibility for their actions, and inspiring for those who have put in the revolutionary work on their own.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised at the limited availability of a free online version of this set of speeches. They're incredibly relevant today to any leftist organization, but I find these particularly relevant to POC organizations in the US. Mandatory reading, in my view.

[Kabir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring read and inspiring man, Sankara from these readings was a practical and bold visionary, he backed up his words with his actions

I love how absolutely clear he was about outlining the framework and principles of the Burkinabé revolution to prevent distortion and ensure those who supported the effort knew exactly what it was they were fighting for and what their role was.

He organized and mobilized the country so quickly through the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and got so much done in just those four years on all fronts: education, agriculture and environment, economic input and output, health, and government. It saddens me to wonder what Burkina Faso could have been like today had he not been assassinated. He was quite literally building a brand new society responsive to the needs and tradition of the Burkinabé people while also moving beyond it to include genuine equality for all peoples including calling for the end of women’s oppression within Burkinabé society, he was a revolutionary architect.

He placed the Burkinabé struggle in the context of the global struggle of oppressed people. It’s really cool seeing how connected global struggles were (and are), how they supported, inspired, and learned from one another despite being at opposite ends of the world in a time before the internet. Reinforces for me the idea that to fight imperialism/capitalism/colonialism abroad you must fight it in your front yard. Still trying to figure out what this means for me and what is possible in my own context.

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given Sankara's unique place in history and his personal intelligence, I was expecting something more than 'by-the-book' anti-colonialist/Marxist speeches. He effectively lays out his governance program in the first speech (the sections on the environment, agriculture, and women's rights are especially interesting) but the most interesting two speeches were the ones at the end on Che's legacy and the uses of the French language for former colonies. I would have appreciated one of his speeches on Burkinabe agricultural policy, considering this was probably the most successful area of his presidency.

[Emma-Louise Ekpo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will let the words of this revolutionary figure speak as whatever I will say will pale in comparison.

“In essence, neocolonial society and colonial society do not differ in the least. This we saw the colonial administration replaced by a neo-colonial administration identical to it in every respect. The colonial army was replaced by a neo-colonial army with the same characteristics, the same functions and the same role of safeguarding the interests of imperialism and its national allies. The colonial schools were replaced by neo-colonial schools, which pursued the same goals of alienating the children of our country and reproducing a society fundamentally serving imperialist interests, and secondarily serving imperialism’s local lackeys and allies” pp32-33

“[Bourgeoisie] Not satisfied with living off the fabulous incomes they derive from shamelessly employing their ill gotten wealth, they fight tooth and nail to monopolise political positions that will allow them to use the state apparatus for their own exploitative and wasteful ends. Never do they let a year go by without treating themselves to extravagant vacations abroad. Their children desert the country’s schools for prestigious educations in other countries. At the slightest illness all the resources of the state are mobilised to provide them with expensive care at luxurious hospitals in foreign countries” p.33

Women’s role in the revolution:

“[women] will be involved in all the battles we will have to wage against the various shackles of neocolonial society in order to build a new society. They will be involved at all levels in conceiving projects, making decisions and implementing them - in organising the life of the nation as a whole” p. 51

“Nor will acquiring diplomas make women equal to men or more emancipated. A diploma is not a free pass to emancipation. The genuine emancipation of women is one that entrusts responsibilities to women that involve them in productive activity and in the different fights the people face […] emancipation like freedom, is not granted, it is conquered. It is for the women themselves to put forward their demands and mobilise to win them” p.51

Palestine - He gives grief to Israel and solidarity to the Palestinian struggle.

“Courageous, determined, stoic, and untiring, the Palestinians remind every human conscience of the moral necessity and obligation to respect the rights of a people. Along with their Jewish brothers, they are anti-Zionists” p.72

You see now why he had to be assassinated? He was too good, ideas too radical which brought justice and peace to his people. Sigh. He will live on in us, in the people left behind, change and justice will come. Sankara we will live your truth.

[Ivor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect anti-imperialistische en marxistische speeches volgens het boekje. Vond vooral Sankara's take op colonizer languages interessant, toch een ander geluid. Tot slot mooie speech over Che's legacy, altijd goed.

[Sahar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contained five of Sankara’s speeches:
-major excerpts of his October 1983 report to the Burkinabe people known as the ‘Political Orientation Speech’ and broadcast on radio and television throughout the country;
-his October 1984 speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York;
-his February 1986 presentation to an international conference in Paris on the preservation of trees;
-his February 1986 statement at the first summit meeting of the French-speaking world in Paris; and
-his October 1987 remarks on the opening in Ouagadougou of an exhibition on the life of Che Guevara

The first speech, “Building a new society, rid of social injustice and imperialist domination,” was the longest and most instructive. It painted a concise picture of Burkina Faso before the revolution -- who the enemies of the people were, and the different sectors of the masses -- and what lead to the uprising itself (colonialism being replaced by neocolonialism which was basically the same thing). Sankara then talked about all the impediments to the revolution and how it succeeded despite them. Finally, he outlined the goals of the Voltaic people and the different parts of society that the new government was setting out to revolutionize (the army, women, the national economy). The speech was inspiring and succinct and practical.

The next speech was the one he addressed to the United Nations and there’s only one word for it: bold. Just to give an idea of how bold, here’s a quote:

“It is our blood that fed the rapid development of capitalism, that made possible our current state of dependence, and that consolidated our underdevelopment. The truth can no longer be avoided, the numbers can no longer be doctored. For every Black person who made it to the plantations, at least five others suffered death or mutilation. I purposely leave aside the devastation of our continent and its consequences.”

The last three speeches were much shorter and punchier (the title of the speech he delivered at a conference on the preservation of trees was called “Imperialism is the arsonist of our forests and savannas” … this guy!).

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a collection of Marxist speeches, repeating the theory and adapting it to the West African context (slightly).

[Marc Lichtman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Our revolution in Burkina Faso draws on the totality of man's experiences since the first breath of humanity. We wish to be the heirs of all the revolutions of the world, of all the liberation struggles of the peoples of the Third World. We draw the lessons of the American revolution. The French revolution taught us the rights of man. The great October revolution brought victory to the proletariat and made possible the realization of the Paris Commune's dreams of justice." —Thomas Sankara, October 1984

Thomas Sankara led the revolution of 1983 to 1987 in Burkina Faso. In the five speeches contained in this pamphlet, he explains how the peasants and workers of this West African country established a popular revolutionary government and began to fight the hunger, illiteracy and economic backwardness imposed by imperialist domination, and the oppression of women inherited from millennia of class society. In so doing, they have provided an example not only to the workers and small farmers of Africa, but to those of the entire world.

Also included in Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution, 1983-87.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The women and men of our society are all victims of imperialist oppression and domination. That is why they wage the same battle. The revolution and women's liberation go together. We do not talk of women's emancipation as an act of charity or out of a surge of human compassion. it is a basic necessity for the revolution to triumph. Women hold up the other half of the sky."

Such a moving thing to see even the world's greatest revolutionaries stand on the shoulders of giants. Sankara took the lessons of the Bolshevik, Chinese and Cuban revolutions to the depths of his heart, and brought a long-gone hope back to his people.

The speeches were immensely inspired. He speaks with such revolutionary optimism, such precise application of Marxist theory.

He cared so deeply, intimately, and indiscriminately about his people and their land. This kind of radical empathy certainly had its impact on Ibrahim Traoré.

He wanted to protect Burkina Faso's land not by religious decree, but by such a profound love for his kin and homeland.

[Tim Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are the Heirs of the World's Revolutions is a collection of five speeches made by Thomas Sankara while he served as president of Burkina Faso. Reading this book has made me realise what was lost when Sankara was killed in 1987.

Sankara's speeches in this book range from the address he gave in the aftermath of the Burkinabe revolution to outlining his strategy for resisting the still ongoing problem of desertification. These speeches make it clear that Sankara was a principled and competent leader, and clearly an eloquent and charismatic orator.

I would recommend this book to anyone, really. It's so short that it can be read in a couple hours, if that, and sheds light on a very interesting man and period of history.

[Imogen Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

"I make no claim to lay out any doctrines here. I am neither a messiah nor a prophet. I possess no truths. My only aspiration…is to speak on behalf of my people…to speak on
behalf of the great disinherited people of the world, those who belong to the world so ironically christened the Third World."

‘The revolution and women's liberation go together. We do not talk of women's emancipation as an act of charity or out of a surge of human compassion.
It is a basic necessity for the revolution to triumph. Women hold up the other half of the sky…
Emancipation, like freedom, is not granted, it is conquered. ft is for women themselves to put forward their demands and mobilize to win them!’

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I couldn’t put it down as soon as I started. Also helps that it’s really short. Nearly every sentence Thomas Sankara spoke is worthy of standing ovation. There is a firm, passionate eloquence throughout that could be felt even through words on a page, but with a universality that even a beginner could not only grasp but also feel the emphasis and urgency in Sankara’s words.

To even quote Sankara himself, ideas can not be killed. Does that mean, in a sense, that Sankara is alive? The legacy lives on. Rest in peace, Thomas Sankara. A brilliant mind and a man of the people, taken from us far too soon.

Homeland or death, we will win.

[Poison Ivy 🌵 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of speeches was meant to expose more people to Sankara and ultimately spread his vision, beliefs, moral, and life story. He was a man of action who not only spoke of change, but actively participated in the liberation of his country. This book serves its purpose in getting people interested in his ideas and exposing them to the many feats he accomplished during his presidency. More people should behave and lead with his morals and gumption, but the world may never see another man like Thomas Sankara, though I would love to see it happen.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there was more historical/political context offered alongside the speeches. Such high-level speeches are written to be convincing, powerful, and persuasive, but as a reader without much prior knowledge of West Africa, I found it difficult to take them at face value. I'll now have to do a deep dive into Burkina Faso's revolutionary history - which is not a bad thing, but being able to do it while reading the speeches would have made it a more complete reading experience.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slim collection of speeches by an important revolutionary, useful in its charting how a nation rose out of abject circumstances under imperialism to start creating its own identity.

Sankara was intelligent and a great communicator in how he allied varied political struggles, from Palestinian to Cuban to his own West African, under one cause of battling oppression by imperial forces.

The book also comes with black-and-white photographs from Sankara’s career.

[Haya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously never read a book on a leader so empathic and smart, he seriously cared about the public and didn’t want power to himself. He’s the definition of mentally powerful. And he didn’t just talk in his speeches, there was always real action to come afterword. Seriously one of my favourite books

[Cullen Cantwell]

A true visionary who stood up for his fellow people. The abolition of capitalism, imperialism, and neocolonialism would be a great thing for our world, but unfortunately it seems more and more like a pipedream each down. Not a whole lot of Heads of State out there that care about their people to point that Sankara did.

[Alfonso Nosequechingados · Rating 5 out of 5]

A versión en español es una excelente oportunidad para acercarse al pensamiento de un revolucionario poco conocido. Sin duda, el texto es el pretexto idóneo para explorar el proyecto político de Sankara y reconocer paralelismos con diversas condiciones políticas, económicas y sociales actuales.

[David Hanuš · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously 10/10 and correct content but you're better off buying Thomas Sankara speaks as it has the same speeches and a lot more

[Janvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. It gave us his speeches with the background information given in the notes at the bottom in case we weren’t aware

[Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest African Revolutionary of all time.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragic how short this is

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read Thomas Sankara.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid speeches but not much insight into the revolution.