This is a list of notable people from Burkina Faso, formerly French Upper Volta.

Artists

Filmmakers

• Sarah Bouyain (born 1968), French-Burkinabé film director
• Gaston Kaboré (born 1951), film director
• Fanta Régina Nacro (born 1962), film director
• Idrissa Ouedraogo (born 1954), film and television director whose films include Yaaba (1989)
• Pierre Rouamba (1951–2023)

Politicians

• Boureima Badini, Minister of Justice from 1999 to 2007
• Laurent Bado, member of the National Rebirth Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Ali Barraud, Minister of Public Health and Population for Upper Volta
• Djibril Bassolé (born 1957), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation from June 2007
• Blaise Bassoleth (1920–1976), member of the French Senate from 1958 to 1959
• Juliette Bonkoungou (born 1954), Burkinabé ambassador to Canada
• Blaise Compaoré (born 1951), President of Burkina Faso from 1987
• Simon Compaoré (born 1952), Mayor of Ouagadougou
• Joseph Conombo (1917–2008), President of Upper Volta from 1978 to 1980
• Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly (1909–1958), president of governing council of Upper Volta from 1957 to 1958
• Toubé Clément Dakio (born 1939), member of the Union for Democracy and Development party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Noellie Marie Béatri Damiba (born 1951), journalist and diplomat
• Bernadette Sanou Dao (born 1952), Burkinabé Minister for Culture from 1986 to 1987
• Frédéric Guirma, politician, head of the RDA and 2001 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Emile Ilboudo, ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire
• Nayabtigungu Congo Kaboré (born 1948), leader of the Movement for Tolerance and Progress party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (born 1957), President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso
• Michel Kafando (born 1942), Burkinabé ambassador to the United Nations
• Joseph Ki-Zerbo (1922–2006), politician, historian, writer and activist
• Begnon-Damien Kone (1921/1922–1986), member of the French Senate from 1958 to 1959
• Lompolo Koné (1921–1974), Foreign Minister of Upper Volta from 1961 to 1966
• Yabre Juliette Kongo (born 1966), member of National Assemblu
• Zakalia Koté, Minister of Justice from 2007 to 2011
• Sangoulé Lamizana (1916–2005), President of Upper Volta from 1966 to 1980
• Ali Lankoandé, member of the Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Ablassé Ouedraogo, Regional Adviser for Africa within the African Development Bank and former foreign minister for Burkina Faso
• Gérard Kango Ouédraogo (1925–2014), Prime Minister for Upper Volta from 1971 to 1974
• Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, member of the Pan-African Parliament
• Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo (born 1942), President of Upper Volta from 1982 to 1983
• Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo (born 1953), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 1996 to 2000, Burkinabé ambassador to the United Kingdom
• Philippe Ouédraogo (born 1942), leader of the African Independence Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Ram Ouédraogo (born 1950), member of the Rally of the Democrats of Burkina party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Youssouf Ouédraogo (born 1952), first Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, serving from 1992 to 1994
• Pargui Emile Paré, member of the People's Movement for Socialism/Federal Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara (born 1959), president of the Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Movement party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
• Thomas Sankara (1949–1987), first President of Burkina Faso serving from 1984 to 1987, also president of Upper Volta from 1983 to 1984
• Thomas Sanon (born 1947), businessman, politician, diplomat
• Clément Sawadogo, Minister of the Civil Service, Labour and Social Security
• Marie Blandine Sawadogo, member of the Pan African Parliament
• Salimata Sawadogo (born 1958), Burkinabé ambassador to several African countries
• Laurent Sedego (born 1956), former military officer and cabinet member
• Nouhoun Sigue (1911–2004), member of the French Senate from 1948 to 1952
• Diongolo Traore (1914–1971), member of the French Senate from 1952 to 1958
• Hermann Yaméogo (born 1948), leader of the National Union for the Defence of Democracy party
• Maurice Yaméogo (1921–1993), first President of Upper Volta, serving from 1983 to 1984
• Salvador Yaméogo, Minister of Transportation and Tourism
• Oubkiri Marc Yao, member of the Pan African Parliament
• Larba Yarga, member of the Pan African Parliament
• Paramanga Ernest Yonli (born 1956), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 2000 to 2007
• Marlène Zebango, Minister for Youth and Sports from 1991 to 1993
• Saye Zerbo (1932–2013), President of Upper Volta from 1980 to 1982
• Tertius Zongo (born 1957), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from June 2007
• Alain Zoubga (born 1953), medical doctor and leader of the Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party

Sportspeople

• Joris Bado (born 1991), basketball player
• Oumar Barro (born 1974), sluo player
• Tanguy Barro (born 1982), soccer player
• Abdoulaye Cissé (born 1983), soccer player
• Brahima Cissé (born 1976), soccer player
• Daouda Compaoré (born 1973), soccer player
• Henoc Conombo (born 1986), soccer player
• Amadou Coulibaly (born 1984), soccer player
• Moumouni Dagano (born 1981), soccer player
• Maxime D'Hoore (born 1978), soccer player
• Mohamed Ali Diallo, soccer player
• Salif Dianda (born 1987), soccer player
• Madou Dossama (born 1972), soccer player
• Ibrahim Gnanou (born 1986), former soccer player
• Jean-Michel Liade Gnonka (born 1980), soccer player
• Abdoul Aziz Kaboré (born 1994), soccer player
• Mohamed Kaboré (born 1980), DAVE
• Bèbè Kambou (born 1982), soccer player
• Pascal Karama (born 1993), soccer player
• Mahamoudou Kéré (born 1982), soccer player
• Nathanio Kompaoré (born 2001), soccer player
• Yssouf Koné (born 1982), soccer player
• Brahima Korbeogo (born 1975), soccer player
• Pierre Koulibaly (born 1986), soccer player
• Moustapha Kourouma (born 1977), soccer player
• Dieudonné Minoungou (born 1981), soccer player
• Toussaint Natama (born 1982), soccer player
• Abdoul-Aziz Nikiema (born 1985), soccer player
• Amara Ahmed Ouattara (born 1983), soccer player
• Boureima Ouattara (born 1984), soccer player
• Moussa Ouattara (born 1981), soccer player
• Ali Ouédraogo (born 1976), soccer player
• Rabaki Jérémie Ouédraogo (born 1973), road racing cyclist
• Rahim Ouédraogo (born 1980), soccer player
• Saïdou Panandétiguiri (born 1984), soccer player
• Jonathan Pitroipa (born 1986), soccer player
• Florent Rouamba (born 1986), soccer player
• Firmin Sanou (born 1973), soccer player
• Idrissa Sanou (born 1977), sprinter
• Olivier Sanou (born 1975), high jumper and triple jumper
• Abroubagui Salbre (born 1993), soccer player
• Ousmane Sanou (born 1978), soccer player
• Wilfried Sanou (born 1984), soccer player
• Cheick Sanou (born 1992), Strongman
• Abdoulaye Soulama (born 1974), soccer player
• Amadou Tidiane Tall (born 1975), soccer player
• Mamadou Tall (born 1982), soccer player
• Soumaila Tassembedo (born 1983), soccer player
• Amadou Touré (born 1979), soccer player
• Alain Traoré (born 1988), soccer player
• Bertrand Traoré (born 1995), soccer player
• Lamine Traoré (born 1982), soccer player
• Ousmane Traoré (born 1977), soccer player
• Seydou Traoré (born 1970), soccer player
• Narcisse Yaméogo (born 1980), soccer player
• Franck Zio (born 1971), long jumper
• Issa Zongo (born 1980), soccer player
• Mamadou Zongo (born 1980), soccer player
• Patrick Zoundi (born 1982), soccer player

Writers

See: List of Burkinabé writers

Others

• Georgie Badiel, model, beauty queen, activist and author
• Fatouma Bintou Djibo, United Nations representative in Niger
• Marie Odile Bonkoungou-Balima, former Minister for Education and ambassador to Germany
• Chantal Compaoré, wife of Burkinabé President Blaise Compaoré
• Gabin Dabiré, musician
• Christine Kafando, HIV/AIDS activist
• Diébédo Francis Kéré, architect and founding principal of Kéré Architecture
• Bil Aka Kora, musician
• Mogho Naba, King of the Mossi people
• Roukiata Ouedraogo, playwright and actress
• Philippe Ouédraogo (cardinal) (born 1945)
• Philomaine Nanema, aka Philo (born 1982), comedian and actress
• Yennenga, legendary African princess, mother of the Mossi people
• Henri Zongo (died 1989), military officer involved in the 1987 coup d'état in Burkina Faso
• Ousmane Zongo (1960–2003), arts trader killed by American police officers in New York City
• Lassina Zerbo (born 1963), Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
• Hamidou Toure (born 1954), mathematician who has played a significant role in the development of mathematics programs in Burkina Faso, from the pre-school level to university level. ^[1]

See also

• Lists of people by nationality – similar lists for other countries
• List of Burkina Faso-related topics

References