View source for Republic of Upper Volta

{{Short description|Former country in West Africa (1958–1984); now Burkina Faso}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Expand French|date=August 2012|République de Haute-Volta|topic=gov}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox Former Country
| native_name            = {{native name|fr|République de Haute-Volta}}
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Upper Volta
| common_name            = Upper Volta
| demonym                = Upper Voltan<ref>National Basic Intelligence Factbook.&nbsp;United States:&nbsp;Central Intelligence Agency,&nbsp;1980, p. 205 [https://books.google.com/books?id=CKSDXD2RmFgC]</ref>
| era                    = [[Cold War]]
| government_type        = [[Presidential republic]] (1960–1966)<br/>[[Military dictatorship]] (1966–1984)
| year_start             = 1958
| status                 = [[Self-governing colony]] (until 1960)<br>[[Sovereign state]] (since 1960)
| year_end               = 1984
| event_start            = [[Self-governing colony]]
| date_start             = 11 December
| event_end              = [[Geographical renaming|Renamed]]
| date_end               = 4 August
| event1                 = [[Independence]]
| date_event1            = 5 August 1960
| event2                 = ''[[1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état|Coup d'état]]''
| date_event2            = 3 January 1966
| event3                 = ''[[1980 Upper Voltan coup d'état|Coup d'état]]''
| date_event3            = 25 November 1980
| event4                 = ''[[1982 Upper Voltan coup d'état|Coup d'état]]''
| date_event4            = 7 November 1982
| event5                 = ''[[1983 Upper Voltan coup d'état|Coup d'état]]''
| date_event5            = 4 August 1983
| p1                     = French Upper Volta
| flag_p1                = Flag of France.svg
| s1                     = History of Burkina Faso#Burkina Faso{{!}}Burkina Faso
| flag_s1                = Flag of Burkina Faso.svg
| image_flag             = Flag of Upper Volta.svg
| flag                   = Flag of Upper Volta
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of Upper Volta.svg
| symbol_type_article    = Coat of arms of Burkina Faso#Coat of arms of Upper Volta
| image_map              = LocationBurkinaFaso.svg
| capital                = [[Ouagadougou]]
| national_motto         = "Unité{{spaced ndash}}Travail{{spaced ndash}}Justice" {{small|{{in lang|fr}}<br />"Unity{{spaced ndash}}Work{{spaced ndash}}Justice"}}
| national_anthem        = {{lang|fr|[[Hymne National Voltaïque]]|italic=no}}<br />{{center|[[File:Republic of Upper Volta.ogg]]}}
| common_languages       = {{ubl|[[French language|French]] (official)|[[Mossi language|Mossi]]|[[Fula language|Fula]]|[[Gourmanché language|Gourmanché]]|[[Bambara language|Bambara]]}}
| currency               = [[West African CFA franc|CFA franc]]
| title_leader           = [[President of Upper Volta|President]]
| leader1                = [[Maurice Yaméogo]]
| year_leader1           = 1959–1966
| leader2                = [[Sangoulé Lamizana]]
| year_leader2           = 1966–1980
| leader3                = [[Saye Zerbo]]
| year_leader3           = 1980–1982
| leader4                = [[Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo]]
| year_leader4           = 1982–1983
| leader5                = [[Thomas Sankara]]
| year_leader5           = 1983–1984
| title_representative   = [[List of governors of Upper Volta|High Commissioner]]
| representative1        = Max Berthet
| year_representative1   = 1958–1959
| representative2        = Paul Masson
| year_representative2   = 1959–1960
| deputy1                = [[Gérard Kango Ouédraogo]]
| year_deputy1           = 1971–1974
| deputy2                = Thomas Sankara
| year_deputy2           = 1983
| title_deputy           = [[Prime Minister of Upper Volta|Prime Minister]]
| cctld                  = 
| footnotes              = 
| population_estimate    = 6,823,000
| population_estimate_year = 1980<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm|title=Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: Data Query|publisher=United Nations|website=esa.un.org|access-date=2025-04-04}}</ref>
| today                  = [[Burkina Faso]]
| iso3166code            = HV
}}
{{History of Burkina Faso}}
{{stack end}}
The '''Republic of Upper Volta''' ({{langx|fr|République de Haute-Volta}}) was a landlocked [[West African]] country established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing state within the [[French Community]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.africa.com/countries/burkina-faso/afripedia/ |title=Burkina Faso |work=Afripedia |publisher=Africa.com |url-status=unfit |access-date=2017-02-09 |archive-date=2017-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155824/https://www.africa.com/countries/burkina-faso/afripedia/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Field Listing: National Holiday |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/print_2109.html |access-date=2020-11-30 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=CIA |archive-date=2020-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922105638/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/print_2109.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Before becoming autonomous, it had been part of the [[French Union]] as the [[French Upper Volta]]. On 5 August 1960, it gained full independence from [[French Fourth Republic|France]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Meredith |first=Martin |date=2013 |title=[[The State of Africa]] |publisher=Simon & Schuster |page=69 |isbn=9780857203885}}</ref> On 4 August 1984, it changed its name to [[Burkina Faso]].

== Etymology ==
[[File:Upper volta map with rivers.PNG|thumb|left|Map showing the [[Volta River]] in Upper Volta]]

The name Upper Volta indicated that the country contains the upper part of the [[Volta River]].

== History ==
[[French Upper Volta|Upper Volta]] obtained independence on 5 August 1960, with [[Maurice Yaméogo]] of the [[African Democratic Rally (Burkina Faso)|Voltaic Democratic Union-African Democratic Rally]] (UDV-RDA) becoming the country's first president. A constitution was ratified the same year, establishing presidential elections by direct universal suffrage and a National Assembly, both with five-year terms. Shortly after coming to power, Yaméogo banned all political parties other than the UDV-RDA. He had shown a deep authoritarian streak even before becoming president. Between the time he became prime minister of Upper Volta while it was still a French colony and independence two years later, opposition parties were subjected to increased harassment.

On 3 January 1966, Yaméogo was overthrown in a [[1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état|coup]] d'état led by army chief [[Sangoulé Lamizana]]. Although multiparty democracy was nominally restored four years later, Lamizana dominated the country's politics until he was himself overthrown in 1980.

After a series of short-term presidencies, [[Thomas Sankara]] then came to power through yet another military [[coup d'état]] on 4 August 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thomas Sankara |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Sankara |website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |access-date=2017-02-09 |archive-date=2016-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010201132/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Sankara |url-status=live}}</ref> After the coup, he formed the National Council for the Revolution (CNR), with himself as president. Under the direction of Sankara, the country changed its name on 4 August 1984, from Upper Volta to [[Burkina Faso]], which means "Land of Incorruptible People".<ref name="WDL1">{{Cite web |title=More (Language of the Mossi Tribe) Phrase Book |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/635 |access-date=16 February 2013 |website=[[World Digital Library]] |archive-date=23 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123122514/https://www.wdl.org/en/item/635/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Politics ==
From 1958 to 1960, the Republic of Upper Volta was led by a high commissioner:
*[[Max Berthet]] (11 December 1958 to February 1959){{Citation needed|date=November 2025}},
*[[Paul Masson (Upper Volta politician)|Paul Masson]] (February 1959 to 5 August 1960){{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}.
From 1971 to 1987, the Republic of Upper Volta was led by a prime minister:
*[[Gérard Kango Ouédraogo]] (13 February 1971 to 8 February 1974)
*[[Thomas Sankara]] (4 August 1983 to 14 October 1987)
{{clear}}

== Symbols ==

=== Flag ===
{{Main|Flag of Burkina Faso#Historical flags}}
The colours of the national flag corresponded to the names of the [[Volta River|Volta's]] three main tributaries: the [[Black Volta]], the [[White Volta]] and the [[Red Volta]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Upper Volta (Burkina Faso, 1959-1984) |url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/bf_uv.html |access-date=2020-11-30 |website=Flags of the World |archive-date=2020-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920045902/https://www.fotw.info/flags/bf_uv.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== National Hymn ===
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
In French:

''Fière Volta de mes aieux,''<br>
''Ton soleil ardent et glorieux''<br>
''Te revêt d'or et de fierté''<br>
''Ô Reine drapée de loyauté !''

''Nous te ferons et plus forte, et plus belle''<br>
''À ton amour nous resterons fidèles''<br>
''Et nos cœurs vibrant de fierté''<br>
''Acclameront ta beauté''<br>

''Vers l'horizon lève les yeux''<br>
''Frémis aux accents tumultueux''<br>
''De tes fiers enfants tous dressés''<br>
''Promesses d'avenir caressées''

''Le travail de ton sol brûlant''<br>
''Sans fin trempera les cœurs ardents,''<br>
''Et les vertus de tes enfants''<br>
''Le ceindront d'un diadème triomphant.''

''Que Dieu te garde en sa bonté,''<br>
''Que du bonheur de ton sol aimé,''<br>
''L'Amour des frères soit la clé,''<br>
''Honneur, Unité et Liberté.''
{{col-break}}
In English:

Proud Volta of my ancestors,<br>
Your ardent and glorious sun<br>
Takes you with gold and pride<br>
O Queen draped with loyalty!

We will make you stronger and more beautiful<br>
To your love we will remain faithful<br>
And our hearts vibrant with pride<br>
Will acclaim your beauty<br>
Towards the horizon look up<br>
Frisks with the tumultuous accents<br>
Of your proud children all trained<br>
Caressed promises of future

The work of your burning ground<br>
Endless will soak the ardent hearts,<br>
And the virtues of your children<br>
The girdle of a triumphant diadem.

May God keep you in his goodness,<br>
May the happiness of your beloved soil,<br>
The love of the brethren be the key,<br>
Honor, Unity and Freedom.
{{col-end}}

This anthem was replaced in 1984 by a new anthem, the [[Ditanyè]].

==Cultural references==
{{anchor|Rockets}}During the 1960s, the [[Soviet Union]] was sometimes derisively referred to as "Upper Volta with rockets",<ref>{{cite news |last=Crashaw|first=Steve|date=15 November 1998|title={{sic|Telev|ison|nolink=y}}: From Burkina Faso with rockets to Upper Volta without|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/televison-from-burkina-faso-with-rockets-to-upper-volta-without-1185033.html|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location=[[London]]|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref> coined by a journalist Xan Smiley,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.russialist.org/archives/3059.html##6|title=Research Topics|website=www.russialist.org|access-date=2017-11-07}}</ref> referencing USSR's disproportion of defence sector over relatively undeveloped civilian economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voxeu.org/article/soviet-economy-1917-1991-its-life-and-afterlife|title=The Soviet economy, 1917-1991: Its life and afterlife|last=Harrison|first=Mark|date=2017-11-07|website=VoxEU.org|access-date=2017-11-07}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[History of Burkina Faso]]
*[[List of governors of Upper Volta]]
*[[List of heads of state of Burkina Faso]]
*[[List of heads of government of Burkina Faso]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR6s6HECTPk Le president Maurice Yamego]-a documentary in French about the first President of Upper Volta, Maurice Yamégo{{Burkina Faso topics}}
{{Years in Burkina Faso}}
{{Former French colonies}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|12.1|N|1.7|W|type:country_region:BF_|display=title}}

[[Category:French West Africa]]
[[Category:Former colonies in Africa]]
[[Category:Former French colonies]]
[[Category:French colonisation in Africa]]
[[Category:Former republics|Upper Volta]]
[[Category:20th century in Burkina Faso]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1958]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1960]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in French West Africa]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:1960 disestablishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:Burkina Faso–France relations]]
[[Category:Military dictatorships|Upper Volta]]