Burkina Faso

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Burkina Faso

A republic in western Africa, south and east of MALI and west of NIGER. Its capital is Ouagadougou. It was formerly called Upper Volta until 1984. A French protectorate was established over the region 1895-97. It was part of Upper Senegal-Niger colony until 1919 when it became a separate colony. Burkina Faso remained under French jurisdiction with varied status until it became totally independent in 1960. Its name is native, meaning land of worthy men, from burkina (worthy) + faso (land, literally father village from fa (father) + so (village)). (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p191, 1273 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p85)