Upper Volta was the name of which country?

The correct answer is Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation in West Africa, was known as the Republic of Upper Volta (or Haute-Volta in French) until 1984. The name change was a significant moment in the country's post-colonial history, symbolizing a break from its colonial past and the birth of a new national identity focused on integrity and self-reliance.

The territory was a part of French West Africa and gained its independence from France on August 5, 1960. For the first 24 years of its independence, it retained the colonial name and the national flag, which consisted of three horizontal stripes of black, white, and red to represent the three branches of the river.

The Revolutionary Change in 1984

The transition from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso occurred on August 4, 1984, under the leadership of the revolutionary president Thomas Sankara. Sankara, often referred to as the "African Che Guevara," sought to decolonize the minds of his citizens and modernize the nation. He believed that the name "Upper Volta" was a relic of French imperialism that had no connection to the indigenous people.

The name "Burkina Faso" was carefully constructed by combining words from the country's two most widely spoken native languages:

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  Burkina: From the Mossi language, meaning "upright" or "honest people."

  
  


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  Faso: From the Dioula language, meaning "fatherland" or "homeland."

  
  

Combined, the name translates to "The Land of Upright People." This rebranding was accompanied by a new national anthem and a new flag to reflect the socialist and pan-African ideals of the government at the time.

Geography and Culture

Burkina Faso is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. Its capital is Ouagadougou. Despite being one of the world's most economically challenged nations, it is culturally rich and is a major center for African cinema, hosting the prestigious Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) every two years.

Legacy of the Name Change

The shift from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso is often cited in political science as a successful example of "topponymic decolonization"—the act of changing place names to reclaim cultural heritage. While the rivers still bear the name Volta, the identity of the people is now firmly rooted in the concept of being "upright." Understanding this history is crucial for anyone studying African geography or the movements for independence and sovereignty in the 20th century.