The International Committee of Sankara annual Conference was held in December 8, 2019 in Harlem in New York as participants came from many States of the United States of America as well as Canada. They came not only to listen to what five panelists who discussed the topic about “Thomas Sankara’s legacy today,” but also to opine on the matter. Paul Sankara the brother of Thomas Sankara was there too.
“Education under Sankara’s revolution, the role of women under Sankara’s revolution, Sankara ’speech in Harlem, Sankara everywhere, Sankara nowhere, terrorism in Burkina Faso,” were the sub topics, which were at the center of the debate.
Basninwende Isonore Dianda, teacher one of the panelists said that education in Burkina Faso before Sankara was functionalist as it was intended to serve the colonizer. Having a chance to attend school according to Dianda was a privilege. In fact, school was for the elite or for those who were living in cities. Kids in rural zones were ignored. According to Dianda the system continued after Burkina Faso proclaimed its independence, and the pattern was still visible under the neo – colonialism. He added that the discriminatory in education system in Burkina Faso ended up when Sankara took power.
“A new role will be assigned by Sankara,” he said. “Sankara tackled indeed, the disparity, gave the chance to young girls to attend school, made education less theoretical and more practical, the curriculum changed.” For Dianda, all these changes disappeared when the rectifiers took power. 
Inem Richardson is a young lady from Nigeria . She has been traveled around the world. As a panelist she said she knows Sankara thanks to books. She recalled how Sankara struggled with women, and how he championed for the emancipation of women. In return, she said “women built the revolution, they changed the course of the revolution.” She added the combat of Sankara is still alive today as she mentioned the rise of grassroots movements that fight against the F CFA, and France military bases in Africa…
“Sankara everywhere, Sankara nowhere,” was the sub topic that was discussed by Issa Zoungrana project coordinator at “Stand for Life and Liberty.” He said Sankara is an icon and many people are talking about him such as political parties, artists, and many books talking about Sankara have been printed. However, he said, it is tough to brace his ideology. “You cannot see him,” he said. As an example, he said corruption, and bourgeoisie are still alive. “ Sankara had a vision, which was the well- being of the poor,” Zoungrana concluded.
Dr. Boukary Sawadogo professor at City University of New York, took a look at Sankara’s speech in Harlem in 1984. “How to conceptualize the speech of Sankara in Harlem?” Boukary asked himself. To answer that question, he embraced both pedagogic and historical tone as he invited the audience to look back ( the prospective ) and look forward. As he looked back, he talked about the first African students to come to America, the African independence movements and the rise of civil rights movement in the United States of America in the 1950s. According to Dr. Sawadogo, there was a kind of similarity between the two movements. However, he said the different movements we have nowadays in the USA and in Africa have nothing in common. As he questioned the relationship that exists between African – Americans and Africans, he called for unity. “ We have to stick together,” he said. Sankara’s legacy today may evolve that unity.
For Peter Thierjung, socialist workers party, “there is a deep crisis “ in Africa and specifically in Burkina Faso as terrorists have been terrorized harmless people. “ This is a reactionary political agenda against people of Burkina Faso,” he said. He recalled how under Sankara there was food sufficiency in Burkina Faso, how Burkinabe built themselves railroad and how millions of people in Burkina Faso were vaccinated. “ We need to find the road back to Sankara,” he said. Peter took the opportunity to talk about the struggle of working-class people as he focused his discussion on taxi drivers in New York city. He pointed out how Uber drivers and yellow cab drivers are fighting against each other when they need to come together.
Paul Sankara the brother of Thomas Sankara is still wondering why after the assassination of Thomas Sankara they said, “ he died for natural cause.” He also mentioned the fact that they could not find his DNA after a set of tests have turned inconclusive. He hopes they will find it. “We need to use our differences to make a huge contribution,” he said as he addressed to the audience.
Many other people intervened either to contribute or to ask questions. “ The exchanges and ideas were very important to me,” Peter said.
Bazona Barnabe Bado
