[TEASER] Alliance of Sahel States Pt. 4: The Life, Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara w/ Amber Murrey

Jan 21, 2026

Amber Murrey, an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford and a scholar-activist focused on Pan-African thought, dives into the life of Thomas Sankara. They discuss Sankara's early experiences with French colonialism and how it shaped his revolutionary policies after a 1983 coup. Murrey highlights his fight against imperialism and key initiatives in women's empowerment, self-reliance, and ecological sustainability. The conversation also touches on the significance of Sankara's assassination and its implications for Burkina Faso's sovereignty.

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INSIGHT

Holistic Vision Of Political Praxis

Thomas Sankara fused charismatic leadership with Pan-African socialism and progressive feminism to create a holistic praxis for Burkina Faso.
He grounded politics in dignity, self-reliance, and material improvements like water, food, education, and health.

ANECDOTE

Military Scholarship Shaped His Trajectory

Sankara grew up under French colonialism; his father served in the colonial gendarmerie and the family experienced material constraints.
He joined the army because a scholarship enabled training and travel that exposed him to international uprisings and political debate.

INSIGHT

Pragmatic Anti-Imperialism

Sankara resisted rigid ideological labels and practiced pragmatic, context-specific policies rather than doctrinaire imitation.
He blended militant anti-imperialism with grassroots empowerment and intellectual openness to experts.

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In this episode, Part 4 of our series on the Alliance of Sahel States, Amber Murrey joins us for a conversation on Thomas Sankara. In this conversation, we discuss Sankara's early life and how his experience with French colonialism shaped his politics and philosophies. We talk about how those philosophies were implemented into policy after a 1983 coup d'etat that put him into the presidency. We explore his fight against French imperialism and for sovereignty of the Burkinabé population. We discuss his assassination, who was responsible, and why it's more important than ever for us to share about his work and uplift his legacy here in the West.

Amber Murrey is Associate Professor in Human Geography, Fellow and Tutor at Mansfield College, and Director of Undergraduate Studies for Geography & the Environment at the University of Oxford. taught at universities in Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, the US. Amber is also the editor of 'A Certain Amount of Madness': The Life, Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara and Associate Editor of The African Geographical Review.

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Artwork: Sanyika

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