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

譯者: Clement Fu 審譯者: Helen Chang

In 1972, Thomas Sankara was swept into a revolution

1972 年

托馬斯·桑卡拉（Thomas Sankara） 捲進一場異國革命

for a country not his own.

Hailing from the West African nation of Burkina Faso—

他出身於西非國家布吉納法索 （Burkina Faso）

then known as Upper Volta—

舊稱上伏塔（Upper Volta）

the 22-year-old soldier had travelled to Madagascar

22 歲時，他遠赴馬達加斯加

to study at their military academy.

以軍人身分就讀當地軍事學院

But upon arriving, he found a nation in conflict.

甫抵達，就發現這異邦天下鼎沸

Local revolutionaries sought to wrest control of Madagascar

當地革命之士力圖掌舵馬達加斯加

from France’s lingering colonial rule.

從彌留的法屬殖民統治中重掌國運

These protestors inspired Sankara

這些抗議者啟發了桑卡拉去閱讀

to read works by socialist leaders like Karl Marx

社會主義領袖如卡爾·馬克思 （Karl Marx）的著作

and seek wisdom from military strategy.

並從軍事戰略中探求智慧

When he returned to Upper Volta in 1973,

1973 年回到上伏塔，桑卡拉就決定

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

要從殖民地過去中解放自己的國家

Born in 1949,

桑卡拉於 1949 年出生

Sankara was raised in a relatively privileged household

在相對富裕優越的家境中長大

as the third of ten children.

十兄弟姊妹中排行第三

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

父母希望他長大後成為司鐸

但如許多同輩一樣，在桑卡拉眼中

Sankara saw the military as the perfect institution

肅清上伏塔貪腐的不二體制是軍事

to rid Upper Volta of corruption.

After returning from Madagascar,

打從馬達加斯加回來後

he became famous for his charisma and transparent oratorial style—

聚眾的魅力、開誠布公的演說風格

讓他聲名大噪

but he was less popular with the reigning government.

對當時的當權政府而言則不太討好

Led by President Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo,

上伏塔現代史上接二連三 發生政變（coup d’état）

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

總統讓-巴蒂斯特·韋德拉奧果 （Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo）

in Upper Volta’s recent history.

就在第三次政變中即位確立政權

The administration’s policies were a far cry

統治班子的政策

from the sweeping changes Sankara proposed,

與桑卡拉提倡的大幅改革相去甚遠

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

但到 1981 年，桑卡拉憑民心所向

earning him a role in Ouédraogo’s government.

在韋德拉奧果政府中贏得一席位

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

人稱「非洲的切·格瓦拉」的桑卡拉

官職扶搖直上，兩年間升至總理

and within two years, he was appointed Prime Minister.

In his new role, he delivered rallying speeches

新崗位上他發表凝聚人心的演講

to impoverished communities, women, and young people.

號召貧苦大眾、婦女及年輕人

He even tried to persuade other governments to form alliances

甚至嘗試說服其他政府結盟

based on their shared colonial legacy.

本著過去同是殖民地之誼同舟共濟

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

然而，韋德拉奧果及其智囊

有感桑卡拉的新位置帶來威脅

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

認為桑卡拉的社會主義信念

會危及與資本主義國家的聯盟

and just months after becoming Prime Minister,

當上總理才數個月

Ouédraogo’s administration forced Sankara from the job

韋德拉奧果政府就逼桑卡拉退位

and placed him on house arrest.

並將他軟禁家中

Little did the President know

此一刻，總統殊不知道

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

此舉埋伏 17 年後上伏塔第四次政變

Civilian protests ensued around the capital,

首都一帶爆發平民抗議

and the government ground to a halt

政府停擺

while Sankara tried to negotiate a peaceful transition.

桑卡拉嘗試協商和平更迭

During this time, Blaise Compaoré,

與此同時，他的朋友暨前軍人隊友

Sankara’s friend and fellow former soldier,

布萊斯·龔保雷（Blaise Compaoré） 粉碎了另一場政變

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

包括暗算桑卡拉性命的圖謀

Eventually, Ouédraogo resigned without further violence,

韋德拉奧果最終辭職下台，偃旗息鼓

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

1983 年 8 月 4 日桑卡拉成為新總統

Finally in charge, Sankara launched an ambitious program

掌權的他大展鴻圖推行大計

for social and economic change.

變革社會與經濟

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

最先著手之一是改國名

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

捨棄法屬殖民地名「上伏塔」

改成「布吉納法索」

which translates to “Land of Upright Men."

意思是「正人君子之土地」

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

隨後四年，他推行全國識字計劃

ordered the planting of over 10 million trees,

下令植樹逾一千萬棵

and composed a new national anthem—

又譜寫新國歌

all while cutting down inflated government employee salaries.

同時削減政府官職厚祿

But perhaps the most unique element of Sankara’s revolution

然而桑卡拉變革最獨樹一幟的地方

was his dedication to gender equality.

也許是致力於性別平等

He cultivated a movement for women’s liberation,

他孕育了一場婦女解放運動

outlawing forced marriages, polygamy and genital mutilation.

立法禁止逼婚、一夫多妻及女陰殘割

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

也是首位非洲領袖委任女性擔任政要

and actively recruit them to the military.

並積極招攬女性從軍

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

但桑卡拉的社會主義政策廣受阻力

Many students and elites believed his economic plans

許多學生、菁英相信他的經濟計劃

would alienate Burkina Faso from its capitalist peers.

讓布吉納法索自絕於資本主義他國

His crackdown on the misuse of public funds

他打擊挪用公款

turned government officials against him as well.

也讓一些政府官員對他同室操戈

After four years, what began as an empowering revolution

四年過去，當初豪情壯志的變革

had isolated many influential Burkinabes.

離棄了許多舉足輕重的布吉納法索人

But Sankara was not ready to yield his power.

但桑卡拉仍戀棧權位

He executed increasingly authoritarian actions,

日趨採取威權式鐵腕手段

including banning trade unions and the free press.

包括封殺工會、扼殺新聞自由

Eventually, his autocratic tendencies

最終，他靠攏獨裁之風

turned even his closest friends against him.

讓心腹之交也倒戈相向

On October 15, 1987,

1987 年 10 月 15 日

Sankara was conducting a meeting when a group of assailants

桑卡拉正值主持會議

swarmed his headquarters.

一群刺客闖進司令部

Sankara was assassinated in the attack,

桑卡拉遇刺身亡，眾人相信

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

突襲是由其密友布萊斯·龔保雷主使

Though his legacy is complicated,

雖然桑卡拉的傳奇錯綜複雜

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

他許多政策都目光遠大、超越時代

In the past decade,

過去十年，桑卡拉的政治哲學

Burkinabe youth have celebrated Sankara’s political philosophy,

受到布吉納法索青年頌揚

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

而一些鄰近國家如迦納

甚至採用了桑卡拉的經濟模型

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

2019 年 3 月 2 日

布吉納法索首都豎立了桑卡拉雕像

標誌桑卡拉在家鄉所佔的位置

establishing his place as an icon of revolution for his country

紀念他的革命由民、國，遍及世界

and throughout the world.