Burkina Faso
UseNational flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion2:3
AdoptedAugust 4, 1984 (1984-08-04)
DesignTwo horizontal bands of red and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center.
Designed byThomas Sankara
National flag at the embassy of Burkina Faso in Washington, DC

The national flag of Burkina Faso (French: drapeau du Burkina Faso) is formed by two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a yellow five-pointed star resting in the center.[1] The flag was adopted on 4 August 1984. The flag uses the Pan-African colours of Ethiopia, reflecting both a break with the country's colonial past and its unity with other African ex-colonies. The red is also said to symbolize the revolution and the green the abundance of agricultural and natural riches. The yellow star placed over the red and green stripes represents the guiding light of the revolution. The flag was adopted following the coup of 1983 which brought Thomas Sankara to power.[2]

History

The original flag of Upper Volta, adopted at independence, contained three horizontal stripes of black, white, and red. These colours represented the three major tributaries of the Volta River, which flows south through the country: the Black Volta, the White Volta and the Red Volta. It is identical to the tricolor flag[3] used by the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The flag was changed when Upper Volta became Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984.

Construction Sheet

Colour scheme

The exact color shades are not defined by law, but are listed as "green", "red" and "yellow-gold" in the constitution.[4] Approximations are listed below:

Red Yellow Green
Pantone 179c 115c 7739c
CMYK 0-82-81-6 2-17-91-0 100-0-54-38
RGB 239-43-45 252-209-22 0-158-73
Hexadecimal #EF2B2D #FCD116 #009E49

Historical flags

Flag Years of use Ratio Government Description
1904–1919 2:3 As part of Upper Senegal and Niger The French tricolor was used as the official flag of French Upper Volta.
1919-1932 French Upper Volta
1932-1947 As part of French Sudan, the Ivory Coast, and the Colony of Niger
1947–1958 French Upper Volta
1958–1960 Republic of Upper Volta
1960–1984 2:3 The national flag of the Republic of Upper Volta was introduced upon gaining independence from France on 5 August 1960. It consisted of three equal horizontal bands of black, white, and red.
1984–Present 2:3 Burkina Faso The current flag, consisting of two horizontal bands of red and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center, was adopted on 4 August 1984.

Other flags

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Flag of Burkina Faso". The World Factbook. CIA. Archived from the original on 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  2. ↑ Smith, Whitney (2002). Flag Lore Of All Nations. Millbrook Press. pp. 21. ISBN 0-7613-1753-8.
  3. ↑ "Upper Volta (Burkina Faso, 1959-1984)". flagspot.net. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  4. ↑ "1991 Constitution of Burkina Faso". constituteproject.org. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
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