Accent placement: UPPER VOLTA

UPPER VOLTA, Republic of Upper Volta(Haute Volta) is a state in West Africa. Until 1958 - possession of France, in 1958 - 60 - a republic with limited internal autonomy within the French. Communities, since Aug. 1960 - independent state. Area - approx. 275 thousand km 2. Population - approx. 4.4 million people. (1962). The capital is Ouagadougou. State language - French.

Education. The long colonial rule of France had an extremely negative impact on the development of culture and education in the country. Only 8% of the population is literate. The school system is modeled after the French one. Private schools, owned mainly by religious organizations (Catholic or Protestant), play a significant role. The bulk of schools are five-year beginning. schools. Beginning School is considered compulsory and free, but covers only 6% of school-age children. In 1961 there were 288 beginnings. schools (of which 185 are public and 103 are private); number of students - approx. 40.5 thousand people (of which only 11.4 thousand are girls), Beg. the school includes a one-year preparatory course (subjects of teaching: reading, writing, French, arithmetic, singing, drawing, physical education, morality), a two-year elementary course (subjects of teaching are the same), a two-year secondary course (history and geography are added to the subjects of teaching , natural science and manual labor), Since the country is in dire need of increasing the number of literate population, the government has developed a plan for the development of education for 1962 - 67, which provides for the construction of rural areas. schools with a shortened, 3-year period of study.

A full course of secondary general education is provided by 7-year colleges and lyceums with modern and classical education. departments; their completion leads to obtaining the title of bachelor. Shortened (4-year-old), so-called. additional courses have only a modern department with agricultural, commercial and other specializations (in accordance with local needs). In the 1959/60 school year. There were only 7 lyceums and colleges (2 state and 5 private). The number of students in secondary schools was approx. 1.4 thousand people

There is a certain number of state and private professional-technical uch. establishments. State apprenticeship centers (3-year) and evening classes for those engaged in this profession (stenographers, auto mechanics, etc.); the total number of students studying there is approx. 500 people Private - home economics schools (4-year) for girls, industrial training schools for boys Teachers beginning. schools prepare junior teachers. courses (5 years); age of applicants is 13 - 15 years for boys, 13 - 16 years for girls, students receive state. scholarship and are required to work for 10 years. Teachers Wed. schools, as a rule, are French; there are no institutions of higher learning; OK. 100 students study outside the country.

At the proposal of the Prime Minister, ministers, as well as all senior civilian and military officials, have the right to early dissolve parliament, etc. The Government of VV - the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament from among those nominated by the President. For 4 years, members of the government must be appointed from the military. Parliament - the unicameral National Assembly - is elected by the population for a 5-year term. The right to participate in elections is granted to all citizens over 21 years of age. The legislative powers of parliament are limited: it can pass laws only on a certain range of issues. Local government bodies in cities and rural communities are special delegations, whose members are appointed by the government. Each delegation is headed by a district or district commandant. In 1965, the so-called Regional Development Organization was created in rural areas, consisting of advisory bodies - general councils and governing councils dealing with issues of economic and social development. The judicial system consists of: the Supreme Court (which also exercises the functions of constitutional supervision), the court of appeal and the courts of first instance. In 1967, an emergency court was established to hear cases of subversion and corruption. Customary courts remain. YU. . Yudin. Nature . The relief is an undulating plateau (height 200-500 m), above the surface of which individual mountains rise up to 750 m high. Most of the territory is composed of crystalline rocks of Precambrian age; to the south-west country, the ancient foundation of the African Platform is covered with Silurian sandstones. The existing deposits of gold, manganese, copper and uranium ores, limestone, and gypsum have not been explored enough. The climate is equatorial-monsoon, with a pronounced dry season (from November to March), during which a dry hot wind blows - harmattan. Average monthly temperatures range from 24-26°C (December or January) to 30-35°C (April or May). Precipitation is 500-1000 mm per year. The river network is sparse. The largest rivers are the Black and White Volta with the Red Volta tributary. During the dry season, all rivers become very shallow or dry up. The soils are red and red-brown; Lateritic crust is common. The vegetation cover is dominated by typical and tall-grass savannas; there are areas of sparse savanna forests and shrubs. Forests occupy about 9% of the area of ​​V.V. Due to predatory extermination, the number of wild animals is decreasing, but lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and antelopes are still found in the savannah. The tsetse fly is common in the southern part of the country. Population. The bulk of the population (82%, here and below - est. 1967) belongs to the Gur (Central Bantoid) language group: Mosi (45% of the total population), Lobi, Mbuin, Ga, Bobo, Grusi, Gurma, Senufo. Separate groups of peoples speak Mande languages ​​(Busa, or Bisa, Sanu, or Samo, Soninke and Diula) and languages ​​of the Atlantic family (Fulani). The northern regions are inhabited by the Songhai (their language forms a special language family), as well as the Tuareg (the language belongs to the Berber group). There are about 4 thousand Europeans (French) people. The vast majority of the population adheres to local traditional beliefs. Islam is practiced by some of the Mande peoples, as well as the Fulani, Songhai, Tuaregs, Bobos, and others. Christians - about 140 thousand people. (part of Mosi, Lobi, etc.). The official language is French. Population growth for the period 1963-69 averaged 2.1% per year. The economically active population (1967) is 2.3 million people, 94% of them are employed in agriculture. Urban population 14%. There are about 33 thousand workers and employees, including government officials. Average population density 19 people. per 1 km2. Most of the population is concentrated in the central regions of the country, where there are from 70 to 100 people per 1 km2; the eastern and northern regions are sparsely populated - 1-4 people. per 1 km2. The economic backwardness of the country, limited areas of fertile land and seasonality of agriculture. jobs force the population to migrate (estimated at 100-450 thousand people per year) to neighboring countries in search of work. Significant cities (1966, estimate: thousand inhabitants): Ouagadougou (115 in 1969), Bobo-Gyulaso (70), Koudougou (28), Vahiguia (10), Kaya (10). The official calendar is Gregorian (see Calendar). Historical sketch. The first state formations on the territory of V.V. took shape in the 11th-14th centuries. The most significant of them are Mosi and Yatenga in the central part of the country and Gurma in the East. In these states, the emerging early feudal relations were intertwined with tribal ones. In 1896, French troops invaded the territory of V.V., but met stubborn resistance, especially from the Mosi state. Only by 1901 did the French colonialists manage to establish themselves in the country. Local feudal rulers were made completely dependent on the colonial administration. In 1904, the territory of V.V. was included in the French colony of Upper Senegal - Niger. In 1916, an uprising against colonial rule broke out in V.V., caused by the introduction of a forced labor system and the massive recruitment of soldiers into the French army. In 1919, V.V. was separated into a separate administrative unit within French West Africa, but in 1932, the French authorities divided the territory of V.V. between the colonies of the Ivory Coast, Niger, and French Sudan. Only in 1947 was V.V. restored to its modern borders as an “overseas territory” of France. After World War II, an anti-imperialist movement developed in WWII, as in other African countries. In 1947, the Voltian section of the African Democratic Rally (RDA) was founded, which led, with the support of broad sections of the people, the struggle for liberation. In 1958, the Voltian section of the RDA, which had recently united with the Party for the Social Education of the African Masses (founded in 1954) and some other political organizations, received the name Voltian Democratic Union (VDU). Also in 1958, the National Liberation Movement party and the local section of the African Regroupment Party were created. National trade union associations began to take shape. With the growth of the national liberation movement, the French colonialists were forced to change the forms of their rule. In February 1958, a Government Council was created in V.V., headed by the leader of the Voltic section of the RDA, W. Coulibaly. After the majority of participants in the referendum on September 28, 1958 approved the new French constitution, V.V. received the status of a member state of the French Community. The country was declared an "autonomous republic". The first national government was formed, headed by the leader of the VDS M. Yameogo, who in December 1959 also became the president of the country. The further rise of the national liberation movement forced the French government to sign an agreement granting V.V. independence (June 11, 1960). The official declaration of independence took place on August 5, 1960; On November 30, a new constitution was adopted. V.V. left the French Community, however, concluding a number of agreements with France (April 1961), which retained important economic and political positions in the country for the former metropolis. On September 20, 1960, V.V. was admitted to the UN. In March 1961, she participated in a conference of 12 French-speaking African countries in Yaoundé and joined the Afro-Malagasy Union founded there (since 1965 - General Afro-Malagasy Organization, since 1970 - General Afro-Malagasy-Mauritian Organization), maintaining close economic and political ties with France and other Western states. Back in 1959, V.V., Ivory Coast, Dahomey and Niger created an economic and political union called the Council of Concord (Togo joined the Council in 1966). In the socio-economic sphere, the government of V.V. set a course for the development of private entrepreneurship and attracting foreign capital to the country (from France, the USA, Germany and other imperialist states). In an effort to suppress the opposition, the government banned the activities of all political parties except the VDS, passed laws in 1963 that expanded the powers of the president, etc. However, all these measures did not achieve their goal. The dissatisfaction of the masses with the policies of the Yameogo government, which led to a decline in the living standards of the population, resulted in open protest. On January 3, 1966, a general strike began at the call of trade unions. Anti-government demonstrations took place in Ouagadougou and some other cities. The army command also opposed the Yameogo government, removing President Yameogo on January 4. Lieutenant Colonel S. Lamizana became the head of state and government (since 1964 he held the post of chief of the general staff; in 1967 he was awarded the rank of brigadier general, in 1970 - division general; he held the post of head of government until February 1971). The constitution was suspended, the activities of political parties were temporarily prohibited, and parliament was dissolved. In December 1966, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of V.V. decided to maintain power in the hands of the army for 4 years. In December 1969, restrictions on the activities of political parties were officially lifted. As a result of a referendum held on June 14, 1970, a constitution was approved, providing for a gradual transition to a civilian regime and the introduction of the post of prime minister. In accordance with the new constitution, elections were held on December 20, 1970, as a result of which the absolute majority of seats in the National Assembly (37 out of 57) was won by the VDS; On February 13, 1971, the leader of the VDS became prime minister. . Ouedraogo. Diplomatic relations between V.V. and the USSR were established in 1967. In February 1967, an agreement on scientific and cultural cooperation was signed between both countries, and in March 1968, a trade agreement. G. A. Nersesov. Political parties, trade unions and other public organizations. Voltaic Democratic Union (VDU) (Union Democratique Voltaique), founded in 1947. Until 1966, it held a monopoly position in the political life of VV. It enjoys significant influence among the peasantry. African Regroupement Party (Parti du regroupement africain), founded in 1958. Enjoys limited influence in the southwest. countries. Movement for National Liberation (Mouvement pour la Liberation nationale), founded in 1958. Advocates for achieving economic independence of V.V. and for developing relations with the USSR and other socialist countries. The trade union association of Volta workers, founded in 1958, is part of the All-African Federation of Trade Unions; maintains contacts with the WFTU. African Confederation of Faithful Workers, founded in 1950; is a member of the All-African Union of Faithful Workers. Voltaic Organization of Free Trade Unions founded. in 1960; is a member of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. There are also sectoral (non-associated) trade union organizations. In total, there are more than 12 thousand trade union members in V.V. General Union of Voltian Students. G. A. Nepsesov. Economic-geographical essay. V.V. is an extremely backward agrarian country. French capital maintains a dominant position in the economy (85% of all capital investments), in its hands is foreign trade, most of industry, and the purchase and sale of a significant part of livestock products. The average annual per capita income is 44 US dollars (one of the lowest in Africa). After the declaration of independence, several measures were taken to develop the economy. The industrial development of the country is hampered by the preservation of pre-capitalist production relations, an acute shortage of capital, skilled labor, raw materials, the small capacity of the domestic market, and the high cost of transport costs and electricity. Agriculture provides 67% of the gross national product. It has a primitive semi-natural character. The land belongs to the communities, but a significant part of it is in the hands of the tribal elite. The main type of economy is small peasant farming. The methods of farming are backward, the tools are a hoe, a plow. Lack of water, soil erosion, and arid climate also hamper the development of agriculture. Extensive pasture livestock farming plays a leading role in the economy. The number of cattle in 1967/68 was 2.6 million, sheep 1.7 million, goats 2.4 million. Livestock and livestock products are exported to neighboring countries - the Ivory Coast and Ghana. Cultivated lands account for over 9% of the country's total territory. Most of them are occupied by food crops (sorghum, millet, corn, rice, peanuts - partly exported), a smaller part - by industrial crops (cotton, shea butter tree). Millet and sorghum are sown mainly in the north. and in the center of the country, rice - mainly in the south, corn - everywhere. (For the area and harvest of the main agricultural crops, see the table.) Cassava and sweet potatoes also play a significant role in the nutrition of the indigenous population. In the suburbs of Bobo Gyulaso and Ouagadougou - vegetable gardening. River fishing is developed: fish catch is 3.5 thousand tons per year. Round wood is harvested - 3.7 million m3 (1968). Industry provides only about 20% of the gross national product. The main industry is agricultural processing. raw materials. Energy base - 2 thermal power plants (Ouagadougou, Bobo-Gyulaso) and 1 diesel station in Vahiguya with a total capacity of 14 thousand kW. Electricity production 22.8 million kWh in 1968. Extraction of manganese ore in Tambao (in the northeast). Area and harvest of main agricultural crops Area, thousand gas yield, thousand tons 1948-52*196119681948-52*19611968 782 653 167 12 168 99 908 667 149 54 238 23 1209 766 228 71 207 82 357 221 89 11 51 3** 411 210 75 30 110 1** 825 361 137 57 133 12** Sorghum Millet Corn Rice Peanuts Cotton * Average for the year. ** Cotton fiber.. 1669 The manufacturing industry is represented by small and medium-sized enterprises. Industrial enterprises are concentrated mainly in Ouagadougou and Bobo Gyulazo. There are oil mills (production of oil, fats and soap from peanuts and shea kernels) and cotton ginning (factories in Bobo-Gyulaso, Ouagadougou, Koudougou) industries, 2 rice processing plants (Bobo-Gioulaso, Banfora), 2 meat slaughterhouses, a sugar refinery (Banfora) , textile mill (Koudougou), tannery, shoe factory (Ouagadougou), bicycle and galvanized iron factories, sawmill. Handicraft production is developed - carpet products, production of sisal fiber, leather processing, etc. Transport. The length (1966) of the Abidjan - Ouagadougou railway within the boundaries of East East is 517 km, roads - about 17 thousand km, including 9 thousand km with hard surfaces (65 km asphalted). Foreign trade relations are carried out along the road from the borders of Mali through Bobo-Gyulaso, Ouagadougou, Fadan-Gourma to the Republic of Niger. There are 2 large airfields in the country: in Ouagadougou and in Bobo Gyulaso. International trade. VV exports in 1967 amounted to 22 million US dollars, imports - 36 million. 90% of the value of VV exports was agricultural. products (mainly livestock and livestock products - 40-60% of the value of exports); Imports are dominated by consumer goods, textiles, clothing, kola nuts, and food. Main foreign trade partners (1967): France (45.2% of imports and 13.5% of exports), Ghana (about 2% and 13.6%), Ivory Coast (49.3% of exports). The currency is the African franc. 1 US dollar = 277.71 African francs (July 1970). . A. Smirnov. The armed forces consist of the ground forces, air force and gendarmerie. The commander in chief is the president. Direct command of the troops is exercised by the Minister of National Defense and the headquarters of the armed forces. The army is recruited on the basis of the law on universal conscription, the duration of active military service is 18 months. The total number of armed forces (1970) is about 2 thousand people, including about 1 thousand people. gendarmerie. The ground forces (about 900 people) consist of a separate infantry battalion, a reconnaissance squadron, a parachute company, an engineer company and service units. The Air Force (about 100 people) is in its infancy and has no combat aircraft. Medical-geographical characteristics. In 1969, per 1000 inhabitants the birth rate was 53, the death rate was 30.5; infant mortality - 182 per 1000 live births. Life expectancy for men is 32.1 years, for women - 31.1 years. Infectious pathology predominates. More than 75% of children aged 2-9 years are affected by malaria. Intestinal infections are common, especially amoebiasis (47 cases per 10 thousand inhabitants in 1964), and genitourinary schistosomiasis. Every year there are outbreaks of smallpox and meningococcal meningitis. The mortality rate from measles reaches 4%. The number of patients with leprosy was 142 thousand (1965), onchocerciasis - 280 thousand (1967), trachoma - 700 thousand (1964). As a result of the measures taken, the incidence of sleeping sickness decreased to 0.009% (1965). The most intense foci of schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, wuchereriosis, sleeping sickness and natural foci of yellow fever are located in the southern regions. In 1967 there were 2 general hospitals with 1.1 thousand beds. The total number of beds was 2.6 thousand (0.5 beds per 1000 inhabitants). Outpatient services were provided in 2 hospital outpatient departments, 23 health centers and 221 dispensaries. In 1967, about 70 doctors worked (1 doctor ulcer with plague and peripneumonia of cattle. M. G. Tarshis. Education was declared compulsory and free for children aged 6-14 years. The duration of training in primary school is 6 years (2-year preparatory , elementary and secondary courses). There are also 3-year rural schools that do not provide complete primary education. To enter a secondary school, you must pass entrance exams after a 6-year primary school. The full course of study in a secondary school (lyceum) is 7 years (4 + 3) The first 4 years of study correspond to junior high school (college). Vocational training is carried out mainly on the basis of primary school for 1 to 5 years. Teachers for primary schools are trained in pedagogical courses with a 5-year training period on the basis of primary schools. In the 1967/68 academic year, there were about 130 thousand students in primary schools, about 32 thousand students in rural schools, over 10 thousand students in secondary schools, over 2 thousand students in the vocational training system, and pedagogical courses - 1447 people. Higher newsletter "Bulletin Quotidien d'Information", circulation 1.2 thousand copies; weekly official bulletin "Journal officiel de la Republique de la Haute-Volta" ("Journal officiel de la Republiquede la Haute-Volta"), since 1959. All of these newspapers are controlled by the government. Radio broadcasting has been carried out in V.V. since 1959; radio stations in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Gyulaso; broadcasts are conducted in French and 13 local languages ​​(more, Dioula, Grusi, etc. A small television studio has been operating in Ouagadougou since 1963. In 1959, a government service was created - Voltaic Radio Broadcasting and Television. G. A. Nersesov. Folk art. In the creativity of the peoples of V.V., the main place is occupied by traditional wooden sculpture associated with the cult of ancestors, expressiveness which is achieved by emphasized geometrization of volumes and rhythms, a sharp comparison of vertical and horizontal planes.Figurines and masks are sometimes decorated with images of antelope horns or a long vertically reinforced bar with carved polychrome ornaments. Less common are metal figurines depicting ancestors and scenes from the life of the gods. Metal jewelry covered with floral patterns and amulets-pendants in the shape of scaly snakes are common. They also make artistic products from the skin of snakes, crocodiles (bags, briefcases, belts) and from animal skins, decorating them with embossed or traced patterns. The walls of dwellings (round or rectangular in plan, with conical or flat roofs) are sometimes decorated with paintings or ceramic bas-reliefs. Lit.: Verin V., Yesterday and today of the Upper Volta, M., 1962; Dim Delobsom A. A., L "Empire du Mogho-Naba, P., 1932; Gerardin B., Le developpement de la Haute-Volta, P., 1963; Hammond P. B., Jatenga. Technology in the culture of a West African Kingdom, N. Y. - L., 1966; Guilhem M., Toe S., Haute-Volta. Recits historiques, P., 1964; Haute-Volta. "Afrique", P., 1966, avr., No. 2, p. 1-56 ; Kabore (Gomkoudougou V.), Organization politique traditionnelle et evolution politique des Mossi de Ouagadougou, P. , 1966; Skinner E. P., The Mossi of the Upper Volta. The political development of a Sudanese people, Stanford, 1964 (bib.); Tauxier L., Le Noir du Jatenga, P., 1917; his, Nouvelles notes sur le Mossi et le Gourounsi, P., 1924; Pedier F. I., West Africa, 2 ed., L., 1959; La Republique de Haute-Volta, “Notes et études documentaires”, 1960, no. 2693; Paulme D., Les sculptures de l "Afrique noire, P., 1956; EIisofon E., The sculpture of Africa, N. Y., 1958.

- French.

Story

Stone tools, drawings on rocks, copper items, bronze figurines discovered during archaeological excavations in the territory of Upper Volta indicate that its territory was one of the ancient places of human settlement in West Africa.

Long before European penetration, stable state formations existed in the territory of Upper Volta. According to legend, Raogo, the leader of the Moi (a people who now make up more than half the population of the country and are close to the Dagombas living in the north of Ghana), conquered the tribes of Upper Volta and founded the settlement of Tenkodogo there.

The heirs of Ouedraogo expanded my possessions and created the kingdom of Ouagadougou, headed by the supreme ruler - the Moro-Naba. Everything was divided into provinces, headed by vassals, who once a year came to the capital Ouagadougou and handed over to the supreme ruler the money collected from their subjects.

By the 13th century. The kingdom of Ouagadougou had a highly developed administrative hierarchy. In the middle of the 14th century. it split into two states - Ouagadougou and. In the 17th century In the southeast of the country, the kingdom of Gurma arose, named after the Gurma people, related to mine. But the ruler of Ouagadougou was traditionally considered the supreme head of all three kingdoms. Upon independence, these kingdoms became districts of the country.

Upper Volta remained out of sight of European colonialists for a long time. The first Europeans appeared in my country only at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1806, an expedition led by the Scotsman Park penetrated the north-east of the country and mapped the Dory area. The French expedition of Benge, which began a thorough exploration of the areas of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso in 1888, was greeted peacefully by the indigenous residents. But they changed when the local leaders began to impose “treaties” on the protectorate, which laid the foundation for the colonization of Upper Volta. In 1896, war began on the territory of the country. , led by the French officers Voulet and Chanoine, wrote bloody pages in the history of Upper Volta.

The peoples of the country offered fierce resistance to the French colonialists. But internecine wars made it easier to take over the country, and by 1904 the colonialists managed to establish themselves here. From that time on, the independent states of mine and gourma ceased to exist, and in 1904 Upper Volta was included in the French colony of Upper Senegal -.

The name Upper Volta first appeared in 1919, when it was separated as an independent administrative region. It was covered by the so-called French West Africa. In 1932, the name Upper Volta again disappeared from politics: its territory was again fragmented and annexed to the neighboring French colonies.

After the declaration of independence in August 1960, the Voltic Democratic Union won the elections. Other political parties were banned. From 1960 to 1966, the country strengthened ties with the imperialist powers. on the development of private entrepreneurship and the infringement of democratic freedoms caused indignation among the broad masses. The military government, which came to power in a coup d'état in 1966, re-established a multi-party system on the eve of the 1970 parliamentary elections. The organizational weakness and social heterogeneity of political parties and groupings prevented them from exerting any significant influence on the masses of working people. The main role in the political life of the country was played by the Voltic Democratic Party, which enjoyed the support of the traditional leaders of my country.

In February 1974, the aggravation of inter-party struggle led to a new military coup; The National Assembly was dissolved and the constitution suspended.

In 1977, in connection with a referendum on a draft new constitution, political parties were again allowed. As a result of the parliamentary elections (1978), the Voltian Democratic Union received the majority of seats in the National Assembly. In May 1978, new presidential elections took place; The army representative won.

Nature

The main part of the country is located in the savannas of the Sudanese zone, which in the north turns into the Sahelian zone adjacent to the Sahara, and in the south into the Guinean zone. Most of the territory is occupied by the vast Moei, composed of ancient crystalline rocks - schists, gneisses and granites. Basically, this is a leveled plateau, on the surface of which in some places there are dome-shaped volcanic origins. The mountain ranges have been subjected to intense destruction for a long time and are therefore greatly smoothed out. The average plateau does not exceed 200-500 m. seas. The rivers Black Volta, Volta, Volta and the right tributaries of the Niger originate on the plateau.

Vast, leveled spaces are convenient for farming. The central part of the plateau, with its relatively fertile soils, is the most densely populated region of the country. The northern part, where vast areas predominate and tsetse is absent, is most favorable for cattle breeding.

In recent years, thanks to geological exploration, deposits of manganese, copper, gold, kaolin, limestone, and marble have been discovered in Upper Volta. Limestone deposits are common in many areas and serve as raw materials for the cement industry. Sandstones used in construction are found everywhere. The reserves of manganese deposits in Tambao (in the northeast) are estimated at 13 million tons, and in terms of manganese content these are one of the richest deposits. The remaining mineral deposits have not yet been assessed, and their economic viability has not been determined.

Economy

Scarce natural resources made Upper Volta at one time unattractive for foreign monopolies. The colonizers did not discover significant mineral deposits here; natural conditions were not favorable for planting export crops that brought large profits. Therefore, from Upper Volta they only drew labor for their plantations in coastal countries. The Voltians laid the railway from Dakar, worked in Ghanaian mines and on the banana plantations of the Ivory Coast, where they were used in the most difficult and low-paid jobs. To this day, about half a million people annually travel to neighboring countries in search of livelihoods. On the plantations of the Ivory Coast alone, more than 90% of hired agricultural workers are Voltaic.

Upper Volta remains an economically underdeveloped agricultural country. Its economy is dominated by foreign, mainly French, .

The colonialists did not invest any significant funds in either agriculture or industry. Therefore, natural and semi-subsistence agriculture remains the main and predominant industry. It employs 95% of the economically active population and creates over 30% of the gross national product. The industry is in its infancy and is represented by small enterprises for processing agricultural raw materials. The country still faces problems such as carrying out socio-economic transformations in the countryside, increasing the pace of economic development and meeting the urgent needs of the population.

The main branch of the economy is agriculture (nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding and). The development of agriculture is hampered not only by difficult natural conditions, but also by the persistence in the countryside of semi-feudal tribal relations and archaic forms of land tenure. The once powerful ruler of my naba still remains the largest landowner in the country.

The preservation of the feudal hierarchy in its most archaic forms is an obstacle to socio-economic transformations in the countryside. The old forms of coercion of the peasants remained intact, they were supplemented by new taxes and duties in kind. Most peasants have plots of 0.8 hectares per farmer. However, the lands are infertile, as they have been destroyed by erosion and primitive cultivation. cultivation remains at the same level as centuries ago. The main agricultural implement is. Low agricultural technology causes extremely low productivity of agricultural production. In addition, only 6% of cultivable land is cultivated. As a result, an agricultural country cannot provide its population with food and its industry with raw materials.

The leading branch of agriculture is farming, 80% of which comes from industrial crops grown for domestic consumption.

Rice growing is becoming increasingly important. Rice has been cultivated in the country for a very long time, but only since 1968, with the help of the state, small rice plantations began to be created, where modern cultivation methods are used. In the Banfora area, the first sugarcane plantations were created on 2 thousand hectares. A sugar refinery has been built here, which processes local raw materials and produces sugar for domestic consumption.

Cattle breeding is most developed in the north of the country, where the fly is absent. Livestock: cattle - 1.9 million, sheep and goats - 3.6 million, pigs - 150 thousand (1976). The development of cattle breeding is hampered by the lack of good pastures and watering places. live cattle and meat occupy an important place in the economy. There are two small slaughterhouses, from where refrigerated trucks are sent to.

Industry in the country is very poorly developed. Small factories for ginning cotton and rice, processing peanuts and shea kernels, textile factories, cigarette and shoe factories, and a brewery belong to French companies.

There is no coal or oil in Upper Volta, so the energy problem is acute. Four main thermal power plants operate on imported fuel. Electricity is supplied mainly to industrial enterprises and urban centers.

The transport network is quite dense, but most roads become impassable during the rainy season. Of the 17.5 thousand km of roads, only 700 km are paved. railways – 517 km.

Two airports (in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso) connect Upper Volta with neighboring countries and Europe by air.

Poorly developed. The country imports industrial goods, food, machinery, and exports agricultural raw materials and livestock products. The main buyers of Voltian cattle are Ivory and. imports goods mainly from France.

Upper Volta has very few funds and qualified personnel for industrial development. Therefore, it attaches great importance to regional cooperation. It is Upper Volta that belongs to the creation of Liptako, which aims to develop the economic region located at the junction of Upper Volta and Niger. These three countries are developing a joint use of the mineral and hydropower resources available in the area.

UPPER VOLTA (Haute-Volta) is a state in West Africa, a republic. Area 274.2 thousand km2. Population over 4 million (1961 estimate). The main population is the Mosi and other peoples of the central Bantoid group (Lobi, Grusi, Gurma, Senufo and others). The Fulani and peoples of the Mande language family also live here. The highest legislative body of Upper Volta (according to the 1960 constitution) is the National Assembly; The head of state and government is the president. Capital city (founded in the 15th century).

Around the 11th century, the first state formations were formed on the territory of Upper Volta. In 1896-1901, French colonialists occupied Upper Volta. The feudal rulers of the states of Ouagadougou, Yatenga, and Gourma were made completely dependent on the colonial authorities. In 1916, a popular uprising against colonial rule broke out in Upper Volta, caused by the massive recruitment of soldiers into the French army.

As a separate administrative unit within French West Africa, Upper Volta existed in 1919-1932 and 1947-1958. Until 1919 (since 1904) it was part of the Upper Senegal-Niger colony, and in 1932-1947 its territory was divided between and French Sudan.

The long-term colonial rule of French imperialism and the persistence of feudal-patriarchal relations, intertwined with capitalist forms of exploitation, determined the extreme economic backwardness of Upper Volta. It is one of the least developed, purely agricultural countries in West Africa. The main occupation of the population is cattle breeding (especially in the northern part) and agriculture. A large number of Upper Volta residents go to work in Mali, Ivory Coast, .

After World War II, the anti-imperialist movement intensified in Upper Volta, which could not be stopped by the repression of the colonial authorities; in 1947, a local section of the Democratic Rally of Africa (now the Voltic Democratic Union) was formed. The French government was forced to change the forms of its rule. After a referendum on September 28, 1958, Upper Volta received the status of a member state of the French Community. In March 1959, the country's first constitution was adopted. The further rise of the national liberation movement forced the French government to sign an agreement with Upper Volta on June 11, 1960, granting it independence. The declaration of independence took place on August 5, 1960. On November 30, 1960, a new constitution was adopted, creating a presidential regime in the country. Maurice Yameogo, the leader of the ruling Volta Democratic Union party, became the President of Upper Volta. The new state left the French Community. Having concluded a series of agreements with France (April 1961), preserving important economic and political positions in the country for the former metropolis, Upper Volta, however, refused to sign the so-called joint defense agreement.

In 1961, Upper Volta, along with 11 other former French colonies, joined the African-Malagasy Union, whose members are economically and politically linked to France. Upper Volta is also part of the Council of Accord (together with Ivory Coast, Dahomey and Niger), created in May 1959.

At the same time, the government of Upper Volta maintains ties with some African countries that are not members of the African-Malagasy Union. In June 1961, an agreement was concluded with Ghana on the elimination of customs barriers between Ghana and Upper Volta.

G. A. Nersesov. Moscow.

Soviet historical encyclopedia. In 16 volumes. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1973-1982. Volume 3. WASHINGTON - VYACHKO. 1963.

Literature:

Verin V.P., Yesterday and today of the Upper Volta, M., 1962; Gavrilov N.I., West Africa under the yoke of France (1945-1959), M., 1961; Subbotin V. A., Colonial policy of France in the West. Africa (1880-1900), M., 1959; La Haute Volta. Afrique occidentale française. Gouvernement-général, P., 1931; Dim Delobsom A. A., L "empire du Mogho-Naba, P., 1932; Gatelet A. L. Ch., Histoire de la conquête du Soudan française (1878-1899), P. - Nancy, 1901; Cornevin R., Histoire des peuples de l "Afrique noire, P., 1960; Marc L., Les pays Mossi, P., 1909; La République Haute-Volta. Notes et études documentaires, 19 August 1960, No. 2693; Tauxier L., Les noires du Jatenga, P., 1917; by him, Nouvelles notes sur le Mossi et le Gourounsi, P., 1924.

Details Category: West African countries Published 03/31/2015 17:56 Views: 1927

“Upper Volta” was the name of the state until 1984.

The name of the country "Burkina Faso" is translated from the local Moore language as "homeland of honest people" or "country of worthy people."

Burkina Faso borders Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast and is landlocked.

State symbols

Flag– is a three-color rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3. The top stripe is red, the bottom stripe is green, and in the center there is a yellow-gold 5-pointed star.
The color red symbolizes the blood shed for the revolution by the victims of the Burkinabe people. Green – the agricultural wealth of the people, prosperity. The yellow-gold star symbolizes the ideological leadership of the people's democratic revolution in its development. The flag was approved on August 4, 1984.

Coat of arms– a shield in the colors of the national flag. Above the shield is the name of the country, below it is the national motto in French: “Unity, Progress, Justice.” Two white horses hold a shield. This coat of arms is similar to the old coat of arms of Upper Volta only with the flag of Burkina Faso on the shield instead of the flag of Upper Volta. The coat of arms was approved in 1997.

State structure

Form of government- republic.
Head of State- President, elected by universal suffrage.

Acting President since 2014 Michelle Cafando
Head of the government– Prime Minister, appointed by the President.
Capital- Ouagadougou.
Largest cities– Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso.
Official language- French.
Territory– 273,187 km².
Administrative division– 13 regions, 45 provinces and 301 departments.

Population– 17,692,391 people. The indigenous population of Burkina Faso belongs to two main ethnic groups: the Gur and the Mande. Urban population 20%. Average life expectancy: men 51 years, women 55 years.

Religion– more than 20% of the population are Christians (mostly Catholics). More than 60% are Muslims, the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs.
Currency– CFA franc.
Economy– one of the poorest countries in the world. 90% of workers are engaged in subsistence agriculture, which suffers from frequent droughts.

The main export crop is cotton. About half the population lives below the poverty level.
Agriculture: cotton, peanuts, oilseed, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; Sheep and goats are raised.

Industry: cotton processing, beverage production, agricultural product processing, soap, cigarette, textile production, gold mining.Export: cotton, livestock, gold, meat, raw hides.Import: industrial goods, food, petroleum products. Natural resources: deposits of manganese ores, gold, phosphorites, copper ores, nickel, titanium.

Primary school in Gando
Education– literacy of men 29%, women 15%. The level of education in Burkina Faso is one of the lowest in Africa. Primary and secondary education is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16 years. By law, education is free, but the government does not have sufficient funds for this. Students are forced to pay tuition, and communities are often responsible for constructing school buildings and housing for teachers. Approximately 70% of children entering primary school reach 5th grade. The country has an acute shortage of teachers and material resources. In the capital there is the International School of Ouagadougou for foreigners.
Higher education: 2 main universities: the Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso, which specializes in a range of applied sciences, including agricultural ones, and the University of Ouagadougou. The first private higher education institution was opened in 1992.

Sport– the country hosts the annual international cycling race Tour du Faso (African equivalent of the Tour de France). Football is popular.
Burkina Faso has taken part in 7 Summer Olympics (boxing, judo, athletics, swimming and fencing). The country did not participate in the Winter Olympics. Burkina Faso's athletes have never won an Olympic medal.
Armed forces- recruited on a voluntary basis. They consist of paramilitary forces (including the gendarmerie), security company, people's militia, airborne regiment, tank battalion, artillery battalion, engineer battalion, air force.

Nature

The country's territory is dominated by savannah, including tall grass; in some places there are areas of sparse savannah forests and shrubs. Forests occupy about 9% of the country's territory.
There are about 20 rivers in Burkina Faso; the most significant of them are Black Volta and White Volta. During the dry season, all rivers become very shallow or dry up.

White Volta
Climate subequatorial.
There are lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and antelopes. But the number of wild animals is constantly declining.
Lots of birds and reptiles.

Hippos, crocodiles, and water turtles live on the swampy banks of rivers. There are many termite mounds in the savanna.

On the border with Benin and Niger there is a national park W (Double-V), reserves.

National Park W (Double-V)

It is the first transboundary biosphere reserve in Africa. It is located in the territory of Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso along the Niger River, which at this point has a characteristic W-shaped bend.
The total area is 31,223.13 km². More than 350 species of birds are observed in the park, including birds that migrate within the continent and birds arriving from Eurasia.
A large number of archaeological artifacts have been found here.

Arly National Park

River Arly
Arly National Park is located in the southeast of Burkina Faso. To the west, Arly is bordered by another Burkinanese nature reserve, the Partiel de Pama Reserve. Area 760 km²; it is located at altitudes from 100 to 500 meters above sea level.
Arly Park is home to numerous species of African fauna: elephants (at least 200), lions (at least 100), leopards, buffalos, hippos (at least 200), crocodiles, warthogs, pythons, Nile monitor lizards, species of monkeys and antelopes.

Nile monitor
The typical natural landscape of Arly is savannah, ranging from grassy to forested. Tugai forests, which have practically disappeared in Burkina Faso, are also found here.

Reserve Partiel de Pama Nature Reserve

Formed in 1955, it is located in the southeast of Burkina Faso. Covers an area of ​​2237 km². Populations of elephants, hippos, lions, and leopards are preserved in the de Pama reserve. The natural landscape is savannah with lush vegetation. There are more than 450 plant species in the reserve (mainly the cereal and legume families). A number of species are listed in the Red Book.

Erli Xingu Ecosystem

Protected natural area. Home to the largest population of lions in West Africa (approximately 400 individuals). Lions make up the majority of the animal population living here, but there is also the largest antelope population in the region.

Culture

Typical national dwelling

In the south of Burkina Faso there is a small village called Thiebele. Its inhabitants construct their buildings entirely from local materials: earth, wood and straw, and then decorate them.

Burkina Faso is one of the leading African countries in the field of cinema.Idrissa Ouedraogobecame the only African director to win the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival (The Law (1990).

Idrissa Ouedraogo

Every odd-numbered year, the country hosts the African Film and Television Festival in Ouagadougou.
Literature Burkina Faso is based on oral folklore. The oral tradition continues to have a strong influence on Burkinabé authors. The most famous writers - Nazi Boni(author of the first Burkinabe novel, Twilight of Ancient Times) and Roger Nikiema. Since the 1980s. women appear among Burkinabe authors: Pierrette Sandra Canzier, Bernardetta Dao, Angele Bassole Ouedraogo, Gael Kone and others.
Contemporary Burkinabe sculptor – Jean-Luc Bambara.

Manega Museum

National Museum of Burkina Faso in Urgu Manega. Founded by Burkinabe writer, lawyer and human rights activist Titingoy Frederic Pacere.

The museum's collection consists of collections of African musical instruments, national clothing, traditional African masks of various peoples inhabiting Burkina Faso. The collection includes ceramics (terracotta) and jewelry from the 2nd century; household and cultural items. Sculptures by local artists are installed around the exhibition pavilions; Nearby, residential and farm buildings of the Mosi, Bobo and Senufo peoples are open for viewing and visiting.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Burkina Faso

Ruins of Loropeni

Ruins of an ancient city in southern Burkina Faso. This is a well-preserved example of a fortified settlement in West Africa. The area of ​​the protected area is 11,130 m², and the area of ​​the buffer zone surrounding the ruins, consisting of forests and agricultural fields, is another 278 hectares. The original purpose of these ruins is not entirely clear: according to one version, these are the ruins of the palace of the local ruler Kaan Iya, according to another, a place for keeping slaves. Researchers will classify Loropeni as a special type of “gold trading” settlement.

Other attractions in Burkina Faso

Lake Tengrela

This lake attracts tourists with the hippopotamuses that live here.
The surface of the lake is covered with numerous species of floating plants (water lilies, marsh flowers, chilim).

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Ouagadougou)

Catholic Church in the city of Ouagadougou. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ouagadougou. One of the largest Catholic cathedrals in West Africa.
It was built in 1936. The architecture of the temple resembles the European Romanesque style with elements of West African architecture. The shape of the basilica resembles a castle. Notable are two towers of different levels.

Ouagadougou

Capital of Burkina Faso. The administrative, economic, transport and cultural center of the country. Population over 1,181,702 inhabitants.
The city has food and textile industry enterprises, an international airport, and a railway station. Cultural life: cinemas, nightclubs, French and American cultural centers.

Memorial
The city's attractions: The National Museum of Burkina Faso, the Moro-Naba Palace, the National Museum of Music and several establishments selling traditional crafts.

Bobo-Dioulasso

Dream in Bobo Dioulasso
The second largest city in the country. It lies at the intersection of trade routes with Mali and Cote d'Ivoire. It is the largest industrial and commercial center in western Burkina Faso. Electrical appliances, textiles, food products, drinks, tobacco products, etc. are produced here. The city has an international airport and a university. Railway the message connects him with Ouagadougou and Abidjan.

Railway station

Story

French colonization of the lands on which the modern state of Burkina Faso is located began at the end of the 19th century. In 1897 it was a French protectorate. From 1904 to 1919, Upper Volta was part of the French colony of Upper Senegal - Niger, and then was separated into a separate colony. In 1947, the Upper Volta colony was restored. The African Democratic Rally (ADR), led first by Coulibaly and then by Maurice Yaméogo, was gaining strength.
From 1947 to 1958, French Upper Volta was considered an overseas territory of France, then the autonomous Republic of Upper Volta was formed as part of the French Community. Yameogo became the President of the Republic in December 1959; he banned all political parties except his own.

Independence

August 5, 1960 Yameogo proclaimed the independence of the state of Upper Volta and became its president.

In 1966, Yameogo was overthrown as a result of a nationwide strike. Power passed to the military led by Lieutenant Colonel Sangule Lamizana, who was elected president of the country by popular vote in 1970.

S. Lamizana

In 1974, on the eve of the next elections, disagreements among the leadership of the ruling party intensified, and Lamizana usurped power. In 1977, Lamizana returned the country to civilian rule. In November 1980, a military regime was again established in Upper Volta, led by Colonel Saye Zerbo, who was removed in 1982 as a result of another military coup. Major came to power Jean Baptiste Ouedraogo.

In 1983, a military coup took place again, and the main state became Sankara, he renamed the country Burkina Faso and proclaimed a course towards social revolution. Outwardly, he tried to “get closer to the people,” for which he was nicknamed “the African Che Guevara.”
But on October 15, 1987, Sankara was killed as a result of a coup carried out by his closest ally Blaise Compaore. In 1997, restrictions on the number of re-elections of the president were abolished, this gave Compaora the right to hold this post virtually for life.
Compaore was in power for 27 years, and in order to prevent him from claiming this post again, a coup was organized in the country on October 30, 2014. The military came to power. A curfew was introduced in the country. The government was dismissed and parliament was dissolved. The interim governing body of the country must restore constitutional order.