Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution 1983–87

Sankara is one of the most incredible person that lived on this planet: he showed to us how important is the fight against imperialism and his ideas were not simply only ideological powerful, but also a practical reality. We can't speak about a fight against imperialism and capitalism without a unity of the wretched of earth. Like Fanon said, only with violence it will be possible to change this reality. Anyway, Sankara's violence goes so much further than only a physical violence: his real confrontation of the system is his creed on the opressed people and on their organisation to transform the world. Because that, Sankara showed to us that a revolution cannot be made without women liberation, for example. So, the african revolutionary think, in some way, exactly like Debord said: "The revolutionary organization must necessarily constitute an integral critique of society ­­ a critique, that is to say, which refuses to compromise with any form of separated power and which is directed globally against every aspect of alienated social life. In the revolutionary organization's struggle with class society, the weapons are nothing less than the essence of the antagonists themselves: the revolutionary organization cannot allow the conditions of division and hierarchy that obtain in the dominant society to be reproduced within itself. It must also fight constantly against its own distortion by and within the reigning spectacle. The only restriction on individual participation in the revolutionary organization's total democracy is that imposed by the effective recognition and appropriation by each member of the coherence of the organization's critique, a coherence that must be borne out both in critical theory proper and in the relationship between that theory and practical activity" (tesis 121, on "The society of the spetacle"). Sankara is that "coherence that must be borne out both in critical theory proper and in the relationship between that theory and practical activity", too. With his struggle, he showed to us how powerful can be the self organisation of a rising nation getting liberated from the horrible claws of the most perverse colonialism. The fight against racism, patriarchy, capitalism, etc, cannot be made without this critique and self organisation from the oppressed. Sankara, as someone that lived with this transformation and fought against every way of exploitation, is somebody who can teach us the way to do it. So, there's no doubt about the quality of this book and of how necessary is to intelectuals from all the world compromised with the oppressed is listen the world of someone who come "from a country whose seven million children, women and men refuse to die from ignorance, hunger, and thirst any longer". Without it, no transformation will be possible; and Sankara show to us this path, with his errors and problems, of course, but, too, with a lot of hope, creed and passion, because his inspiration is "to speak on behalf of the disinherited of the world". This book is a powerful intellectual weapon; but is too an astonishing inspiration gun. With it, I received a real lession on how the people is the most powerful actor of our world, like Sankara always believed. On this way, there's no more thing that we need to say than "Homeland or death, we will win". Sankara is a lession for everybody who dreams to see this world liberated of all oppressions that stings our lifes, because "You cannot kill ideas".

I was glad to have been able to purchase this. I knew of the brother, but never got to read his words & works. His speeches are now a favorite of mine to own. He was speaking on issues that still affect the African continent, even today. We didn't listen then...we should DEFINITELY be listening now. These issues not only affect Africa currently, but also the Black community as a whole throughout the diaspora.

I truly liked reading about the young leader and his Pan African thinking to bring about change in his beloved country as well as in Africa as a whole. His visionary thinking back then are still needed today to mitigate Neocolonialism in Africa. Africa needs more Thomas Sankara nowadays more than ever.

Great read. It gave me a clearer understanding of his life and the problems he experience as a revolutionary in Burkina Faso. Very inspiring and informative about the political climate in Africa. I would of loved his biography if it was available

Very nice book, well written and carefully crafted about Thomas Sankar's era. Well done!

He was a man of integrity.

This book is a must read for all especially the African Youth who are craving for change and positive leadership from their political leaders. Money well spent. 5 Thumbs up..

Great book and legendary revolutionary hero

Die Reden des marxistischen Revolutionärs Thomas Sankara.

Great to get an insight into Thomas Sankara's thinking and understanding for the development of Africans in Bakina Faso and beyond. For African women and it's genetations to come if they supported the long term goals. For Africas Development, Pride in doing and achieving for Africas Independence, the approaches to Africas Empowerment and Freedoms from control from outside forces for continental Africans and in the Diaspora. If only they All believed in the strategies that together for Africans Prosperity would be achieve, without influence from Western powers/Domination. Such a shame it wasnt completely actualized, due to enermies, who had no interest in Unification for the continent to thrive. He had some of the right ideas but unfortunately, he wasn't supported by the person closest to him, called "his best friend" who ultimately betrayed him for others to benefit long term.

What a loss we suffered with the death of Thomas Sankara. His words are so trenchant, so bold, so clear. And all without bitterness. His humanity and sense of humour always manages to come through. Inspiring stuff! It's not a book you'll read through from beginning to end, but one that you'll open at any page and just start reading.

アフリカのブルキナファソで多くの人々のために革命を起こした若き兵士、その名をトーマス・サンカラという。この人のことは日本語でネットで書いている人がいて、そこから知ったのですが、もっと知りたいと思い、この英語の本を見つけました。 この中に書かれているのは、当時トーマス・サンカラが話していたスピーチ。フランス語で話していたと思うので、英訳されたのかなと思ったりしながら、革命が起きていた時の雰囲気を大衆に語りかける強い語調から感じることができました。 トーマス・サンカラについて、これからもっと日本語で書いてくれる人が出てくることを期待しています。 以下、トーマス・サンカラの国連演説の訳文を載せられていたウェブサイトから引用（http://blog.goo.ne.jp/burkinaoyaji/e/7a0efe127e7af841dba81fd7aa9cfcb6）。 引用始め 「わたしは、愛するブルキナファソの人々を代表するだけではなく、世界の片隅で、もがき苦しんでいる、すべての人々を代表して語りたい。黒い肌をしているだけで、あるいは文化が異なるというだけで、ほとんど動物と変わらない扱いしか受けていない、この数百万人のゲットーにいる人々を代表してわたしは語りたい。男性によって作り上げられたシステムによって苦しんでいる、すべての女性を代表して、わたしは語りたい。マラリヤや下痢といった簡単に救う方法があるにもかかわらず、貧しさや、知識の不足から、子どもたちが死んでいくのを目の当たりにしている、すべての母親たちのために、わたしは語りたい。お金持ちの人々のショールームの武装された警備で守られている厚いガラス窓を、いつも、お腹を空かせて見ている貧しい子どもたちのために、わたしは語りたい。 わが国は、人類のすべての苦悩を統合したような苦しみに満ち溢れている。だが同時に、戦いの希望にも満ち溢れている。死の商人たちが独占している最新の科学技術、それをじっと見つめる不安げな病人たちに代わって、わたしは打ち震えるのだ。 そしてわたしは、自然破壊の犠牲となったすべての人々、飢餓という恐ろしい武器によって死に至っている年間3000万人の人々に思いを馳せている。世界中の国際会議で発言しようとしているすべての人々、彼らの声が届くように、そして真剣に問題を取り組むために、わたしはここに立ち上がる。 この国連の会議の場で、わたしの前では多くの人々が発言してきた。そしてわたしの後にも発言者が続くであろう。 しかし、建前上はみな平等の権利をもって会議に臨んでいるとしても、実際の決定権を握っているのはごく少数の人々だけである。だからこそわたしは、世界中の国際会議で発言しようとしているすべての人々の声が届くように、代弁者となろう。 そう、わたしは世界で見捨てられているすべての人々のために語りたい。なぜならわたしは人間であり、人間である限り、わたしと無関係ではないのだから。わたしたちの望みは、他の人々を排除するような黒人の世界を作ることではない。 黒人として、わたしたちは、皆さんに伝えたい。 『どのように、お互いを愛するかということを』 ("As black people, we want to teach other people how to love each other.")」 引用終わり

The best book about how Africa can liberate itself from the yoke of aid begging and become self sufficient. Sankara is no doubt Africa's true son who shook colonialists perception of African submission to neocolonialism and control. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in pan African ideology