Welcome to Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa whose name literally translates to “Land of Incorruptible People.” There are around 25 million people living here, and the capital is Ouagadougou—a name so fun to say that many people just call it “Ouaga.” The official language is French, though most people speak Mossi or Dioula at home.
Burkina Faso covers about 274,200 square kilometers, or 105,870 square miles. To imagine its size, it is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom, or about eight times the size of the city of Beijing. It is located in a region called the Sahel, which is the transition zone between the dry Sahara Desert in the north and the green tropical forests in the south.
The most popular sport here is Football, but the country is also famous for hosting the Tour de Faso, a massive international bicycle race that travels across the hot, dusty plains. Their national animal is the White Stallion, which is a symbol of the legendary Princess Yennenga, a famous warrior who is considered the mother of the Mossi people.
The flag consists of two horizontal bands of red and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center, where the red symbolizes the revolution, the green represents the country’s natural wealth, and the yellow star stands for the guiding light of the revolution.
The food is simple and hearty. The national dish is Tô, which is a thick, dough-like paste made from millet or corn that is used to scoop up spicy vegetable or meat stews. They also love Brochettes, which are grilled meat skewers found at street stalls everywhere, often served with a spicy peanut seasoning.
Burkina Faso is the cultural heart of Africa! Every two years, it hosts FESPACO, the largest African film festival in the world. In the town of Bazoulé, there is a pond where people live in total harmony with dozens of Sacred Crocodiles; the crocodiles are so friendly that children often play near them and tourists can even sit on their backs! The country is also home to the Ruins of Loropéni, ancient stone walls that are over 1,000 years old and were once part of a massive gold-trading network. Another amazing sight is the Sindou Peaks, jagged rock formations that look like giant stone fingers reaching into the sky—millions of years ago, they were actually underwater!
From the rhythmic drumming in the villages to the bustling markets of the capital, Burkina Faso is a land of music, pride, and ancient legends. Merci! That means “Thank you!”