Last modified: 2000-01-07 by antonio martins
Keywords: burkina faso | africa | star: 5 points (yellow) | law |
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![[Flag of Burkina Faso]](../images/bf.gif)
A strange flag with proportions 1:4 or 1:5 is shown on
every page of the
official
governmental site
Ivan Sache, 15 Apr 1999
In 1984 the country became socialist and changed
the name [from Upper Volta]
to Burkina Faso and the flag to the current red over
green with central yellow star.
Nick Artimovich, 05 Jun 1996
The meaning of Burkina Faso is "land
of the incorruptibles", "land of the
honourable men", I think in language
Morée — which is the language of
the Mossi, the biggest burkinabesian people.
According to Fischers Weltalmanach
1985 (Frankfurt am Main, 1984), the
state took first the french writing
Bourkina-Fasso, from 4th
to 15th of August, 1984, after they
changed in Burkina Faso.
Johannes Weigand, 27 Feb 1998
Already from the 4th August 1984 onwards the
official country's name was "Burkina Faso". The
short hand name should be "Burkina", but is rarely
used. (sources: Letters and Press Releases by the
Embassy of Burkina Faso, dated 11 August 1984
(reprinting an interview with Ouatamon Lamien,
Director of the National Radio of Burkina Faso),
1985.07.05, 1985.12.26; Süddeutsche Zeitung,
1984.08.04-05, ibidem 1984.08.06, ibidem
1985.12.28-29; Die Welt, 18 September 1984.)
Dieter Linde, 28 Feb 1998
The emblem is the tricolor flag, rectangular and horizontal, red and green, with, centered, a yellow-gold, 5-pointed star. The law determines the arms and the meaning of their constitutive elements.
National Assembly of Burkina Faso According to the Constitution; According to Resolution n° OO01/97/AN of 07 June 1997, validating the mandate of the deputees in Burkina Faso; Deliberated in its session of 1st August 1997, and adopted the following law:translated by Ivan Sache, 15 Apr 1999, from the official governmental siteArticle 1:
The arms of Burkina Faso are constituted as follows: one (1) shield bearing in chief, on a silver scroll the name of the country "BURKINA FASO"; in the middle an escutcheon with two (2) stripes in fasce bearing the national emblem and "broching" on two (2) crossed lances; two (2) reared-up silver stallions supporting the escutcheon on each side; in the bottom an open book; below, two (2) millet stalks with three pairs of green, half-mooned, leaves, equidistant from the vertical line going through the points of the escutcheon and the upper branch of the star of the emblem. Stalks are crossed and linked at the basis by a flame bearing the national motto "Unity - Progress - Justice". The flame supports the whole "millet stalks - lances - escutcheon".Article 2:
The two stallions symbolize the nobility of the burkinabe people; their position means action and their disposition the necessity and importance of the union that makes the force of the people. The escutcheon symbolizes the protection of the nation and the love of the country; shield against the hazards, rampart again all aggressions, he ensures the security of the state. The lances symbolize the determination of the sons of Burkina Faso to protect their country; their crossed design means vigilancy and bravery of this nation. The open book symbolizes the quest for knowledge and education, factors of progress and development. Millet spikes symbolize the will of food independence and abundance.Article 3:
The present law will be reinforced as a law of the State. This was done and deliberated in public audience in Ouagadougou on 1st August 1997.
The description of Coat of Arms was published in the
Journal officiel du Burkina Faso Nr 38 of 18.09.97.
Armand du Payrat, 09 Jan 1998