ABSTRACT
Most of Burkina Faso is a low plateau ranging from savannah in the south to the semi-desert of the Sahel in the north. It is best known for two things: for the biennial FESPACO film festival – this poor country has produced some of Africa’s finest films and the festival is a showcase for African cinema; and for the short presidency of the charismatic Thomas Sankara, who inspired progressive people all over Africa and made profound changes to his country before being overthrown by conservative forces with foreign support. Burkina Faso is a friendly country and those who visit it often come back for more. There are some good museums in the capital, Ouagadougou, and several game reserves. Bobo Dioulasso, the second city, is a fascinating place with examples of Sahelian mud architecture and with a star-shaped street plan laid out by the French colonial government. The scenery is not remarkable, but there are some amazing rock formations in the southwest. There are some excellent markets, notably Goron-Goron in the north, and a big international arts-and-crafts festival each year in October and November.
