Guide Note

Known as the Republic of Upper Volta up until 1984, Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation in West Africa. It is bordered by Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Toga and Ghana to the south and the Ivory Coast to the southeast.

Fast Facts

1. Capital: Ouagadougou
2. Government: Semi-presidential republic
3. Population: Approx. 14,326,203
4. Currency: West African CFA franc
5. Official Language: French

A former French colony, Burkina Faso obtained independence from France in 1960. Military coups plagued the country through the 70s and 80s, but multiparty elections were finally held in the early 1990s. The country's current president Blaise Compaore came to power in a 1987 military coup. He has won every election since that time. The country suffers from a high population density and limited natural resources. However, the country is culturally rich with over 60 different ethnic groups making up its population.

Burkina Faso is considered to have the most advanced film production and distribution facilities in West Africa, making it a key player in African film industry. The country plays host to an annual Pan-African Film Festival and is the home of Idrissa Ouedraogo, one of Africa's most commercially successful directors.