In 1972, Thomas Sankara was swept into a revolution for a country not his own. Hailing from the West African nation of Burkina Faso— then known as Upper Volta— the 22-year-old soldier had travelled to Madagascar to study at their military academy. But upon arriving, he found a nation in conflict. Local revolutionaries sought to wrest control of Madagascar from France’s lingering colonial rule. These protestors inspired Sankara to read works by socialist leaders like Karl Marx and seek wisdom from military strategy. When he returned to Upper Volta in 1973, Sankara was determined to free his country from its colonial legacy.
1972 年,托马斯·桑卡拉 (Thomas Sankara) 被卷入了一场他国的革命。 这名 22 岁的士兵来自西非国家 布基纳法索 (Burkina Faso)—— 这里在当时还叫做 上伏尔特 (Upper Volta) , 并曾前往马达加斯加的 军事学院学习。 但在到达目的地之后, 他发现自己身处一个战乱中的国家。 当地的革命者们试图从 法国长期的殖民统治中 夺取对马达加斯加的控制权。 这些抗议者激励了桑卡拉 去阅读诸如卡尔·马克思(Karl Marx) 等社会主义领袖的作品, 并从中寻找军事智慧。 在 1973 年,当他回到上伏尔特时, 桑卡拉决心将他的国家 从残余的殖民统治中解放。
Born in 1949, Sankara was raised in a relatively privileged household as the third of ten children. His parents wanted him to be a priest, but like many of his peers, Sankara saw the military as the perfect institution to rid Upper Volta of corruption. After returning from Madagascar, he became famous for his charisma and transparent oratorial style— but he was less popular with the reigning government.
出生于 1949 年的桑卡拉 在一个相对富有的家庭中长大, 在家中十个孩子里排行第三。 他的父母想让他成为一名牧师, 但是就像大多数的同龄人, 桑卡拉将军事学院视作 摆脱上伏尔特腐败的 完美机构。 从马达加斯加回来后, 他的个人魅力以及开诚布公的 演讲风格让他名声大振—— 但却引起了政治领导层的警惕。
Led by President Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo, this administration came to power in the 3rd consecutive coup d’état in Upper Volta’s recent history. The administration’s policies were a far cry from the sweeping changes Sankara proposed, but, by 1981, Sankara’s popularity won out, earning him a role in Ouédraogo’s government. Nicknamed “Africa’s Che Guevara," Sankara rapidly rose through the ranks, and within two years, he was appointed Prime Minister. In his new role, he delivered rallying speeches to impoverished communities, women, and young people. He even tried to persuade other governments to form alliances based on their shared colonial legacy. But Ouédraogo and his advisors felt threatened by Sankara’s new position. They thought his communist beliefs would harm alliances with capitalist countries, and just months after becoming Prime Minister, Ouédraogo’s administration forced Sankara from the job and placed him on house arrest.
近代的上伏尔特境内 不断发生政变(coup d’éta), 由总统让 · 巴蒂斯特 · 韦德拉奥果 ( Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo) 带领的 这届政府在第三场政变中上台。 这届政府的政策 与桑卡拉提议的大幅改革 相差甚远。 但是,在 1891 年, 桑卡拉在民意支持中胜出, 在韦德拉奥果的政府内部 获得了一席之地。 被冠以 “非洲切 · 格瓦拉” 的绰号, 桑卡拉的职业发展可谓平步青云, 不到两年,他就被任命为总理。 在就职时,他发表了致力于服务 女性和年轻人社区的集会演讲。 他甚至还试图说服 其他有共同殖民经历的国家 结为同盟。 但是,韦德拉奥果和他的顾问 察觉到了桑卡拉的新职位带来的威胁。 他们认为桑卡拉的共产主义信仰 会伤害资本主义联盟。 在成为总理的几个月过后, 桑卡拉就被迫离职, 并被韦德拉奥果的行政部门 软禁在家中。
Little did the President know this act would fuel Upper Volta’s 4th coup d’état in 17 years. Civilian protests ensued around the capital, and the government ground to a halt while Sankara tried to negotiate a peaceful transition. During this time, Blaise Compaoré, Sankara’s friend and fellow former soldier, foiled another coup that included an attempt on Sankara’s life. Eventually, Ouédraogo resigned without further violence, and on August 4, 1983, Thomas Sankara became the new President of Upper Volta.
可总统不知道的是, 这一举动会在 17 年后 引发上伏尔特的第四场军事政变。 首都一带爆发了 平民抗议,导致政府停摆, 而桑卡拉则试图 通过谈判实现和平过渡。 在此期间,布莱兹 · 孔波雷 (Blaise Compaoré), 桑卡拉的朋友兼前战友, 粉碎了另一场试图 谋害桑卡拉的政变。 韦德拉奥果最终辞职, 政变也随之平息。 1983 年 8 月 4 日,托马斯 · 桑卡拉 成为了上伏尔特的新总统。
Finally in charge, Sankara launched an ambitious program for social and economic change. As one of his first agenda items, he renamed the country from its French colonial title "Upper Volta" to "Burkina Faso," which translates to “Land of Upright Men." Over the next four years he established a nation-wide literacy campaign, ordered the planting of over 10 million trees, and composed a new national anthem— all while cutting down inflated government employee salaries. But perhaps the most unique element of Sankara’s revolution was his dedication to gender equality. He cultivated a movement for women’s liberation, outlawing forced marriages, polygamy and genital mutilation. He was the first African leader to appoint women to key political positions and actively recruit them to the military.
终于掌权的桑卡拉一展宏图, 大举推行了改革社会经济的项目。 他最先着手的计划是更改国名, 从原法国殖民地名称 “上伏尔特” 改成了 “布基纳法索”, 意思是 “正人君子的土地”。 在接下来的四年里, 他推行了全国性的扫盲运动, 下令种植了超过一千万棵树, 并且创作了一首新的国歌—— 同时还减少了公务员虚高的工资。 然而桑卡拉的革命中 最独树一帜的地方或许是 致力于推行性别平等。 他筹划了一场女性平权运动, 取缔强制性婚姻, 一夫多妻制与割礼。 他是第一位为女性赋予 重要政治角色的非洲领导人, 并且积极地招收女兵。
However, Sankara’s socialist policies were met with much resistance. Many students and elites believed his economic plans would alienate Burkina Faso from its capitalist peers. His crackdown on the misuse of public funds turned government officials against him as well. After four years, what began as an empowering revolution had isolated many influential Burkinabes. But Sankara was not ready to yield his power. He executed increasingly authoritarian actions, including banning trade unions and the free press. Eventually, his autocratic tendencies turned even his closest friends against him.
但是,桑卡拉的社会主义政策 也遇到了很多阻碍。 很多学生和精英 认为他的经济计划 会导致布基纳法索与其他 资本主义同盟国家的关系日渐疏远。 他对于滥用公共资金行为的镇压 使政府官员也对他产生了不满。 四年后,当初的赋权革命 孤立了许多有影响力的布基纳法索人。 但是桑卡拉还没准备好让位。 他执行了越来越多的独裁议案, 比如禁止贸易同盟 和扼杀舆论自由。 最终,他的独裁政治 使他与他的密友们倒戈相向。 1987 年 10 月15 日,
On October 15, 1987, Sankara was conducting a meeting when a group of assailants swarmed his headquarters. Sankara was assassinated in the attack, and many believe the raid was ordered by his friend Blaise Compaoré.
当桑卡拉正在主持一场会议时, 一群刺客闯进了司令部。 桑卡拉遇刺身亡, 很多人认为雇佣这群杀手的是 他的好友布莱兹 · 孔波雷。
Though his legacy is complicated, many of Sankara’s policies have proven themselves to be ahead of their time. In the past decade, Burkinabe youth have celebrated Sankara’s political philosophy, and nearby countries like Ghana have even adopted Sankara’s economic models. On March 2, 2019 a statue of Sankara was erected in Burkina Faso’s capital, establishing his place as an icon of revolution for his country and throughout the world.
虽然桑卡拉为后世留下的 政治遗产很复杂, 他的许多政策后来 被证明走在了时代的前端。 在过去的十年里, 布基纳法索的年轻人 歌颂了桑卡拉的政治哲学, 而一些邻近的国家,像加纳, 甚至采纳了桑卡拉的经济模型。 2019 年 3 月 2 日,一尊桑卡拉的雕像 矗立在了布基纳法索的首都, 确立了属于他的位置—— 一个国家革命 以及世界革命的标志性人物。