Burkina Faso Honors Sankara with New Mausoleum and Memorial Park

Burkina Faso has unveiled a powerful new mausoleum honoring revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara and twelve of his aides, all assassinated in 1987. Designed by Kéré Architecture, the structure features thirteen tombs arranged to follow the sun’s path. Each of the structures is lit hourly by an individual skylight in a symbolic gesture of remembrance and loss. Built from locally sourced clay and laterite, the building reflects Sankara’s commitment to sustainability and self-reliance. This mausoleum marks the first phase of the ambitious Thomas Sankara Memorial Park, which will include an amphitheater, educational facilities, and a symbolic 100-meter tower. More than just a tribute, the site transforms a place of tragedy into a vibrant space for hope, history, and pan-African ideals that continue to inspire people across the continent today.

Arch Daily