Burkina Faso
By: Brittany Kirby
Capital: Ouagadougou
The red symbolizes the recent revolution, the green the abundance of natural riches and the yellow star the guiding light of that revolution.
The History Behind the Name
From the arrival of Europeans, Burkina was ruled by the Mossi. The Mossi were powerful kingdoms of tribes throughout Burkina. The French were the first of the Europeans to arrive and they laid claim to the land in 1896. However, the Mossi fought back. The French took control in 1901, but used the Mossi leaders to control the area. On August 5, 1960 Burkina Faso became an independent country. Their first president was Maurice Yameogo. The country struggles with high population density and limited natural resources.
The national anthem of Burkina Faso, Was written by the former president Thomas Sankara and adopted in 1984, when the country adopted its present name. This Anthem was written because it praises the history, traditions, and struggles of Ouagadougou's people.