The life, legacy & assassination of an African revolutionary - Lisa Janae Bacon

翻译人员: Chloe Ma 校对人员: Yanyan Hong

In 1972, Thomas Sankara was swept into a revolution

1972 年，托马斯·桑卡拉 （Thomas Sankara）

被卷入了一场他国的革命。

for a country not his own.

Hailing from the West African nation of Burkina Faso—

这名 22 岁的士兵来自西非国家 布基纳法索 (Burkina Faso)——

then known as Upper Volta—

这里在当时还叫做 上伏尔特 (Upper Volta) ，

the 22-year-old soldier had travelled to Madagascar

并曾前往马达加斯加的

to study at their military academy.

军事学院学习。

But upon arriving, he found a nation in conflict.

但在到达目的地之后， 他发现自己身处一个战乱中的国家。

Local revolutionaries sought to wrest control of Madagascar

当地的革命者们试图从 法国长期的殖民统治中

from France’s lingering colonial rule.

夺取对马达加斯加的控制权。

These protestors inspired Sankara

这些抗议者激励了桑卡拉

to read works by socialist leaders like Karl Marx

去阅读诸如卡尔·马克思（Karl Marx） 等社会主义领袖的作品，

and seek wisdom from military strategy.

并从中寻找军事智慧。

When he returned to Upper Volta in 1973,

在 1973 年，当他回到上伏尔特时，

Sankara was determined to free his country from its colonial legacy.

桑卡拉决心将他的国家 从残余的殖民统治中解放。

Born in 1949,

出生于 1949 年的桑卡拉

Sankara was raised in a relatively privileged household

在一个相对富有的家庭中长大，

as the third of ten children.

在家中十个孩子里排行第三。

His parents wanted him to be a priest, but like many of his peers,

他的父母想让他成为一名牧师， 但是就像大多数的同龄人，

Sankara saw the military as the perfect institution

桑卡拉将军事学院视作 摆脱上伏尔特腐败的

to rid Upper Volta of corruption.

完美机构。

After returning from Madagascar,

从马达加斯加回来后，

he became famous for his charisma and transparent oratorial style—

他的个人魅力以及开诚布公的 演讲风格让他名声大振——

but he was less popular with the reigning government.

但却引起了政治领导层的警惕。

Led by President Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo,

近代的上伏尔特境内 不断发生政变（coup d’éta），

this administration came to power in the 3rd consecutive coup d’état

由总统让 · 巴蒂斯特 · 韦德拉奥果 ( Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo) 带领的

in Upper Volta’s recent history.

这届政府在第三场政变中上台。

The administration’s policies were a far cry

这届政府的政策 与桑卡拉提议的大幅改革

from the sweeping changes Sankara proposed,

相差甚远。

but, by 1981, Sankara’s popularity won out,

但是，在 1891 年， 桑卡拉在民意支持中胜出，

earning him a role in Ouédraogo’s government.

在韦德拉奥果的政府内部 获得了一席之地。

Nicknamed “Africa’s Che Guevara," Sankara rapidly rose through the ranks,

被冠以 “非洲切 · 格瓦拉” 的绰号， 桑卡拉的职业发展可谓平步青云，

and within two years, he was appointed Prime Minister.

不到两年，他就被任命为总理。

In his new role, he delivered rallying speeches

在就职时，他发表了致力于服务

to impoverished communities, women, and young people.

女性和年轻人社区的集会演讲。

He even tried to persuade other governments to form alliances

他甚至还试图说服 其他有共同殖民经历的国家

based on their shared colonial legacy.

结为同盟。

But Ouédraogo and his advisors felt threatened by Sankara’s new position.

但是，韦德拉奥果和他的顾问 察觉到了桑卡拉的新职位带来的威胁。

They thought his communist beliefs would harm alliances with capitalist countries,

他们认为桑卡拉的共产主义信仰 会伤害资本主义联盟。

and just months after becoming Prime Minister,

在成为总理的几个月过后，

Ouédraogo’s administration forced Sankara from the job

桑卡拉就被迫离职，

and placed him on house arrest.

并被韦德拉奥果的行政部门 软禁在家中。

Little did the President know

可总统不知道的是，

this act would fuel Upper Volta’s 4th coup d’état in 17 years.

这一举动会在 17 年后 引发上伏尔特的第四场军事政变。

Civilian protests ensued around the capital,

首都一带爆发了

and the government ground to a halt

平民抗议，导致政府停摆，

while Sankara tried to negotiate a peaceful transition.

而桑卡拉则试图 通过谈判实现和平过渡。

During this time, Blaise Compaoré,

在此期间，布莱兹 · 孔波雷 （Blaise Compaoré），

Sankara’s friend and fellow former soldier,

桑卡拉的朋友兼前战友，

foiled another coup that included an attempt on Sankara’s life.

粉碎了另一场试图 谋害桑卡拉的政变。

Eventually, Ouédraogo resigned without further violence,

韦德拉奥果最终辞职， 政变也随之平息。

and on August 4, 1983, Thomas Sankara became the new President of Upper Volta.

1983 年 8 月 4 日，托马斯 · 桑卡拉 成为了上伏尔特的新总统。

终于掌权的桑卡拉一展宏图，

Finally in charge, Sankara launched an ambitious program

for social and economic change.

大举推行了改革社会经济的项目。

As one of his first agenda items, he renamed the country

他最先着手的计划是更改国名，

from its French colonial title "Upper Volta" to "Burkina Faso,"

从原法国殖民地名称 “上伏尔特” 改成了 “布基纳法索”，

which translates to “Land of Upright Men."

意思是 “正人君子的土地”。

Over the next four years he established a nation-wide literacy campaign,

在接下来的四年里， 他推行了全国性的扫盲运动，

ordered the planting of over 10 million trees,

下令种植了超过一千万棵树，

and composed a new national anthem—

并且创作了一首新的国歌——

all while cutting down inflated government employee salaries.

同时还减少了公务员虚高的工资。

But perhaps the most unique element of Sankara’s revolution

然而桑卡拉的革命中 最独树一帜的地方或许是

was his dedication to gender equality.

致力于推行性别平等。

He cultivated a movement for women’s liberation,

他筹划了一场女性平权运动，

outlawing forced marriages, polygamy and genital mutilation.

取缔强制性婚姻， 一夫多妻制与割礼。

He was the first African leader to appoint women to key political positions

他是第一位为女性赋予 重要政治角色的非洲领导人，

and actively recruit them to the military.

并且积极地招收女兵。

However, Sankara’s socialist policies were met with much resistance.

但是，桑卡拉的社会主义政策 也遇到了很多阻碍。

Many students and elites believed his economic plans

很多学生和精英 认为他的经济计划

would alienate Burkina Faso from its capitalist peers.

会导致布基纳法索与其他 资本主义同盟国家的关系日渐疏远。

His crackdown on the misuse of public funds

他对于滥用公共资金行为的镇压

turned government officials against him as well.

使政府官员也对他产生了不满。

After four years, what began as an empowering revolution

四年后，当初的赋权革命

had isolated many influential Burkinabes.

孤立了许多有影响力的布基纳法索人。

But Sankara was not ready to yield his power.

但是桑卡拉还没准备好让位。

He executed increasingly authoritarian actions,

他执行了越来越多的独裁议案，

including banning trade unions and the free press.

比如禁止贸易同盟 和扼杀舆论自由。

Eventually, his autocratic tendencies

最终，他的独裁政治 使他与他的密友们倒戈相向。

turned even his closest friends against him.

On October 15, 1987,

1987 年 10 月15 日，

Sankara was conducting a meeting when a group of assailants

当桑卡拉正在主持一场会议时，

swarmed his headquarters.

一群刺客闯进了司令部。

Sankara was assassinated in the attack,

桑卡拉遇刺身亡，

and many believe the raid was ordered by his friend Blaise Compaoré.

很多人认为雇佣这群杀手的是

他的好友布莱兹 · 孔波雷。

Though his legacy is complicated,

虽然桑卡拉为后世留下的 政治遗产很复杂，

many of Sankara’s policies have proven themselves to be ahead of their time.

他的许多政策后来 被证明走在了时代的前端。

In the past decade,

在过去的十年里，

Burkinabe youth have celebrated Sankara’s political philosophy,

布基纳法索的年轻人 歌颂了桑卡拉的政治哲学，

and nearby countries like Ghana have even adopted Sankara’s economic models.

而一些邻近的国家，像加纳， 甚至采纳了桑卡拉的经济模型。

On March 2, 2019 a statue of Sankara was erected in Burkina Faso’s capital,

2019 年 3 月 2 日，一尊桑卡拉的雕像 矗立在了布基纳法索的首都，

establishing his place as an icon of revolution for his country

确立了属于他的位置—— 一个国家革命

and throughout the world.

以及世界革命的标志性人物。