Brief History

Archaeological digs have discovered tools from hunters and gatherers living in Burkina Faso from 14,000 BC to 5,000 BC. The first communities in Burkina Faso were villages, from about 3600 BC and 2600 BC. Then between the 8th and 15th centuries, Burkina Faso was a part of the Iron-Age Bura culture. The Mossi people ruled the land that is now Burkina Faso from the medieval period up until the 19th century. The Mossi were farmers, soldiers, and were known for building empires. In 1987, the lands of the Mossi people became a French protectorate, which later became known as Upper Volta. In 1984, after political unrest and overthrowing of leaders, Upper Volta was renamed Burkina Faso.

National Flag

The national flag of Burkina Faso is made up of two equal bands of red and green, with a  yellow star in the center. The flag was adopted on August 4th, 1984.

Geography

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in western Africa. It shares a border with six other countries, including Niger, Togo, and Ghana. Burkina Faso has a savannah that is grassy in the northern part of the country, eventually turning into sparse forests more south. The country also occupies an extensive plateau.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 75th

 

Highest Mountain: Mount Tenakourou, 747 m. (2,451 ft.)

 

Longest River: Black Volta, 1,352 km. (840 m.)

Main Languages

Moore, French, and Dyula.

Burkina Faso Population: 19.8 million (as of 2018)
Capital City: Ouagadougou
Capital City Population: 2.2 million (as of 2015)

Climate

The climate of Burkina Faso is very tropical, with two distinct seasons. The rainy season lasts from June to October, and the dry season lasts from November to March. Temperatures in Burkina Faso are hot year-round. In the winter months, there are relatively fast winds, which can cause sandstorms.

Key People

• Thomas Sankara
• Joanathan Pitroipa
• Blaise Compaore

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  Cuisine

  The cuisine of Burkina Faso is called Burkinabé cuisine and is similar to other West African cuisines. The most common grains in Burkinabé cuisine are rice, corn, and millet. Other staple ingredients include peanuts, yams, sorghum, beans, and okra. Grilled meat is common, especially goat, mutton, beef, and fish. Vegetables grown in Burkina Faso are recognizably European, such as carrots, tomatoes, onions, and spinach. Fresh local strawberries, as well as bananas, mangoes, papayas, and coconuts, are commonly found in Burkina Faso.

  The picture is a picture of the fruit of the African Baobab tree.

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  Sports

  Traditional sports of Burkina Faso include archery and wrestling. More Recently, popular sports have shifted to include rugby, handball, basketball, boxing, and tennis. Football is likely the most popular sport in the country, and the Omnisport Stadium was built specifically to host the 1998 Cup of Nations, in which Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals. Cycling is also popular in Burkina Faso, especially since it is not just a sport, but an easy form of transportation.

  The picture is a picture of the Burkina Faso Football Team.

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  Culture

  Burkina Faso is one of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world, and there are over 60 ethnic and linguistic groups living there. An important part of Burkinabé culture is art, and it has a large handicraft community. Dancing is also a key part of Burkinabé culture, and dances are performed to praise animal spirits and gain blessings. Almost half of the population is Muslim, 40% follow animist beliefs, and the remaining 10% are Christian.

   

  The picture is a picture of decorative painted gourds in Ouagadougou.

   

  Burkina Faso is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Burkina Faso here: Burkina Faso (answers are on this page)

  Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Burkina Faso. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

  For further reading and more info on the Burkina Faso visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Burkina_Faso