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

The life, legacy & assassination of an African revolutionary

In 1972, Thomas Sankara was swept into the revolution seeking to wrest control of Madagascar from France's lingering colonial rule. The protests inspired the West African native to read works by socialist leaders and seek wisdom from military strategy. Leaving Madagascar in 1973, he was determined to free his country from its colonial legacy. Lisa Bacon details the life of the revolutionary icon. [Directed by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat, narrated by Christina Greer, music by WORKPLAYWORK / Cem Misirlioglu].

Thomas Sankara, a young soldier from Burkina Faso, returned home inspired by revolution in Madagascar and determined to break his country’s colonial chains. As president, he renamed the nation, championed women’s rights, and launched ambitious reforms like planting over 10 million trees. His bold vision won both admiration and fierce resistance. Sankara’s push for rapid transformation ultimately isolated allies, ending in his assassination, but his legacy lives on in youth movements and international models.