A Certain Amount of Madness: The Life Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara (Black Critique)

Biographie de Thomas Sankara, l'une des figures les plus importantes de l'anti-impérialisme en Afrique, officier et homme d'État burkinabé. Foreword by Horace G. Campbell AcknowledgementsIntroduction by Amber MurreyPart I: Life and Revolution1. Military Coup, Popular Revolution or Militarised Revolution?: Contextualising the Revolutionary Ideological Courses of Thomas Sankara and the National Council of the Revolution - De-Valera N.Y.M. Botchway and Moussa Traore2. The Perils of Non-Alignment: Thomas Sankara and the Cold War - Brian Peterson 3. Thomas Sankara and the Elusive Revolution - Leo Zeilig4. When Visions Collide: Thomas Sankara, Trade Unions and the Revolution in Burkina Faso, 1983-1987 - Craig Phelan5. Africa's Sankara: On Pan-African Leadership - Amber Murrey6. Who Killed Thomas Sankara? - Bruno Jaffre7. 'Incentivized' Self-Adjustment: Reclaiming Sankara's Revolutionary Austerity from Corporate Geographies of Neoliberal Erasure - Nicholas A. JacksonPart II: Political Philosophies 8. Madmen, Thomas Sankara and Decoloniality in Africa - Ama Biney9. With the People: Sankara's Humanist Marxism - Ernest Harsch 10. Thomas Sankara & Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem: The Untimely Deaths of Two New Generation African Visionaries - Patricia Daley11. Women's Freedoms are the Heartbeat of Africa's Future: A Sankarian Imperative - Patricia McFadden12. Re-Reading Sankara's Philosophy for a Praxeology of Debt in Contemporary Times - Sakue-C. Yimovie13. Sankara's Political Ideas and Pan-African Solidarity: A Perspective for Africa's Development? - Felix Kumah-Abiwu and Olusoji Alani Odeyemi14. 'Revolution and Women's Liberation Go Together': Thomas Sankara, Gender and the Burkina Faso Revolution - Namakula E. MayanjaPart III: Legacies15. Balai Citoyen: A New Praxis of Citizen Fight with Sankarist Inspirations - Zakaria Sore16. La Sante Avant Tout: Health Before Everything - T. D. Harper-Shipman17. Social Movement Struggles and Political Transition in Burkina Faso - Bettina Engles18. To Decolonize the World: Thomas Sankara and the 'Last Colony' in Africa - Patrick Delices19. 'Daring to Invent the Future': Sankara's Legacy and Contemporary Activism in South Africa - Levi Kabwato and Sarah ChiumbuPart IV: Contestations and Homages 20. The Academy as Contested Space: Disappearing Sankara from the 'Acceptable Avant-Garde' - Nicholas A. Jackson21. Art and the Construction of a 'Sankara Myth': A Hero Trend in Contemporary Burkinabe Urban & Revolutionary Propaganda Art - Sophie Bodenes Cohen22. Slanted Photography: Reflections on Sankara and My Peace Corps Experience in Burkina Faso - Celestina Agyekum23. 'We Are the Children of Sankara': Memories as Weapons during the Burkinabe Uprisings of 2014 and 2015 - Fiona DragstraAfterword by Aziz Salmone FallNotes on Contributors Index Military Coup, Popular Revolution Or Militarised Revolution? Contextualising The Revolutionary Ideological Courses Of Thomas Sankara And The National Council Of The Revolution / De-valera N. Y. M. Botchway And Moussa Traore -- The Perils Of Non-alignment : Thomas Sankara And The Cold War / Brian Peterson -- Thomas Sankara And The Elusive Revolution / Leo Zeilig -- When Visions Collide : Thomas Sankara, Trade Unions And The Revolution In Burkina Faso, 1983-1987 / Craig Phelan -- Africa's Sankara : On Pan-african Leadership / Amber Murrey -- Who Killed Thomas Sankara? / Bruno Jaffré -- 'incentivized' Self-adjustment : Reclaiming Sankara's Revolutionary Austerity From Corporate Geographies Of Neoliberal Erasure / Nicholas A. Jackson -- Madmen, Thomas Sankara And Decoloniality In Africa / Ama Biney -- With The People : Sankara's Humanist Marxism / Ernest Harsch -- Thomas Sankara And Tajudeen Abdul-raheem : The Untimely Deaths Of Two New Generation African Visionaries / Patricia Daley -- Women's Freedoms Are The Heartbeat Of Africa's Future : A Sankarian Imperative / Patricia Mcfadden -- Re-reading Sankara's Philosophy For A Praxeology Of Debt In Contemporary Times / Sakue-c. Yimovie -- Sankara's Political Ideas And Pan-african Solidarity : A Perspective For Africa's Development? / Felix Kumah-abiwu And Olusoji Alani Odeyemi -- 'revolution And Women's Liberation Go Together' : Thomas Sankara, Gender And The Burkina Faso Revolution / Namakula E. Mayanja -- Balai Citoyen : A New Praxis Of Citizen Fight With Sankarist Inspirations / Zakaria Soré -- La Santé Avant Tout : Health Before Everything / T. D. Harper-shipman -- Social Movement Struggles And Political Transition In Burkina Faso / Bettina Engels -- To Decolonize The World : Thomas Sankara And The 'last Colony' In Africa / Patrick Delices --'daring To Invent The Future' : Sankara's Legacy And Contemporary Activism In South Africa / Levi Kabwato And Sarah Chiumbu -- The Academy As Contested Space : Disappearing Sankara From The 'acceptable Avant-garde' / Nicholas A. Jackson -- Art And The Construction Of A 'sankara Myth' : A Hero Trend In Contemporary Burkinabè Urban And Revolutionary Propaganda Art / Sophie Bodénès Cohen -- Slanted Photography : Reflections On Sankara And My Peace Corps Experience In Burkina Faso / Celestina Agyekum -- 'we Are The Children Of Sankara' : Memories As Weapons During The Burkinabè Uprisings Of 2014 And 2015 / Fiona Dragstra. Edited By Amber Murrey ; Foreword By Horace Campbell ; Afterword By Aziz Salmone Fall. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Thomas Sankara was one of Africa's most important anti-imperialist leaders of the late 20th Century. His declaration that fundamental socio-political change would require a 'certain amount of madness' drove the Burkinabe Revolution and resurfaced in the country's popular uprising in 2014.

This book looks at Sankara's political philosophies and legacies and their relevance today. Analyses of his synthesis of Pan-Africanism and humanist Marxist politics, as well as his approach to gender, development, ecology and decolonisation offer new insights to Sankarist political philosophies. Critical evaluations of the limitations of the revolution examine his relationship with labour unions and other aspects of his leadership style. His legacy is revealed by looking at contemporary activists, artists and politicians who draw inspiration from Sankarist thought in social movement struggles today, from South Africa to Burkina Faso.

In the 30th anniversary of his assassination, this book illustrates how Sankara's political praxis continues to provide lessons and hope for decolonisation struggles today.

Thomas Sankara was one of the most important anti-imperialist leaders of the late twentieth century. His declaration that fundamental socio-political change would require a 'certain amount of madness' drove the Burkinabè Revolution and resurfaced in the country's popular uprising in 2014. This book explores Sankara's political philosophies and legacies and their relevance today. Analyses of his synthesis of Pan-Africanist and humanist Marxist politics, as well as his approaches to gender, development, debt and decolonisation offer new insights into Sankarist political philosophies. Critical evaluations of the limitations of the revolution examine his relationship with labour unions and other aspects of his leadership style. His legacy is revealed by looking at contemporary activists, artists and politicians who draw inspiration from Sankarist thought in social movement struggles today, from South Africa to Burkina Faso Celebrating and critiquing the life of one of Africa's most important anti-imperialist leaders