Thomas Sankara, a former soldier in the military and Pan-Africanist, presided over Burkina Faso from 1983 until his murder in 1987. Sankara was convinced to trade in his bicycle for an inexpensive Renault and start taking the car to work. Sankara wore clothing made from cotton that was cultivated nearby and resided in a modest brick home. Sankara is credited with many quotations, but "He who feeds you, rules you" is probably the most well-known. The nation achieved food security on its own after three years of boosting wheat production from 1700 kg per hectare to 3800 kg per hectare.

Source: New York Times June 03, 2023 18:33 UTC