At its meeting on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the Council of Ministers adopted a preliminary draft constitutional law revising the Constitution in connection with the motto of Burkina Faso. Thus, instead of “Unity-Progress-Justice”, the motto will now be “Homeland or death, we will win”. In this street interview, Burkinabe from several regions of the country appreciate.
Aristide Addi Attiana, executive at the Centre-South Regional Council:
“It fits with the current context of our country” “I welcomed the news of the constitutional bill amending the motto with great satisfaction. It is not in some way a new motto but a return to our old motto. And it fits with the current context of our country which is going through an unprecedented security and humanitarian crisis. I believe that the authorities want to revive the feeling of deep attachment and devotion to the homeland among the entire population. In our current context, we must recognize that it is not only the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) who must defend the homeland. Every Burkinabe is called upon to contribute to the fight against terrorism. I therefore find that this motto is challenging, particularly through the words that compose it.”
Sébastien Bouda, civil society leader in Manga: “This motto awakens in us a deep feeling of patriotism.”
“‘Homeland or death, we will conquer’ even reflects the current context and the feeling that people should have in the face of the insecurity that is imposed on us. Personally, I find that this motto also gives vibration and awakens in us a deep feeling of patriotism. Our grandparents fought so that our country could exist in the 1940s and we too have the duty to fight to rid our country of the forces of evil and preserve its integrity.”
Dieudonné Ouédraogo, correspondent for the Observer Paalga in Kaya: “May all Burkinabe people take ownership of this motto”
“In my opinion, the change of the motto is in line with the current context of the country where we have no other choice but to fight to the death to save the homeland. We are not in a normal country and faced with the terrorist hydra, the challenges are enormous. I think that this motto encourages all Burkinabe to come to the idea that they must combine all efforts to free the country from terrorists. I think that it is a motto that will motivate the fighting forces on the ground and also the entire population as a whole. Our wish is that all Burkinabe take ownership of this motto so that together we can bring back peace and security throughout the national territory.”
Abdoulaye Ouédraogo, professor of History and Geography in Kaya:
“The homeland comes before our individual freedoms”
“The change of the motto is really welcome in the current situation of Burkina which is facing an imposed war. I think that this war has become a problem for all the sons of the Nation. And consequently, achieving victory to save our country is first and foremost a priority. But seeing the different opinions regarding the current situation in Burkina, one wonders if everyone is aware that we are in the same homeland and that it is what we all have in common. At the same time, one wonders if this motto that we have always advocated: Unity-Progress-Justice is really important today. So for me this triptych no longer makes sense because the Burkinabe have distorted it so much that today, it is necessary that we are in a single logic which is that of defending our homeland. Hence The homeland or death we will conquer. It is therefore necessary that we return to this motto. Only the nation and the homeland unite us. Patriotic and nationalist feelings must be the best shared. That is why I agree that we return to this patriotism to be able to understand that the individual cannot be above the group as the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré said. The homeland comes before our individual freedoms.
Siaka Drabo, a native of Solenzo “The initiative taken by the government during the Council of Ministers to return to our old motto is commendable. It goes straight to our hearts. The word homeland refers to ourselves first and challenges us all. I saw no meaning in the motto “Unity-Progress-Justice”, since the Burkinabe were not united. The fight for food self-sufficiency and other projects require that we have a homeland first. This is why we must necessarily fight against terrorism to restore this homeland. Hence my tributes to the FDS as well as the VDP who are fighting for this. Any change that will improve our situation is welcome. Thank you to the President of Faso and his team for this vision.”
Hama Hamidou Dicko, journalist in Dori: “It’s only fair.”
“The return to this formula is a good thing. The coexistence of the two formulas on the documents confused citizens. When someone says Unity-Progress-Justice, it does not resonate within them and once you say Burkina Faso, even in the depths of the villages, you hear “The game or death we will win”. I believe that this is only a fair return of things. I hope that this measure will be endorsed by the Transitional Legislative Assembly to allow us to stick to reality.”
Cissé Issoufa Ousmana, student in Dori: “Although removed, this motto was engraved in our memories”
“The return to the formula “Homeland or death we will conquer” as a motto is welcome. Although removed, this formula had remained engraved in the memories of the Burkinabe. I congratulate the government for the proposal to return to this formula and I invite all Burkinabe to the proper application of the motto, because it must not be only words, but also actions. The Burkinabe must be a patriot and everyone must ensure that this new motto becomes a reality.”
Sylvestre Bazié from the province of Sanguié: “If you want to progress, you must first be free”
“What we want to see here is the concrete. I am a Sankaraist. In reality, I asked myself the question of knowing if with the old motto, we progressed, because, if we want to progress, we must first be free. Before, it was “Unity-Progress-Justice” and the end of the national anthem is “The Fatherland or death we will conquer”. But did we have this spirit of the fatherland under this regime? Did we really commit ourselves whatever the situation we were facing? With the concrete actions that we are currently seeing on the ground, this new motto is welcome.”
Frédéric Bagoro, civil servant living in Réo: It’s as if we were still at war”
“This decision to change Burkina’s motto is a return to the source and I think it’s really a good thing. But the problem is that it becomes a warrior’s motto, a reminder of our identity. But I find that in official speeches, if at the end we always have to say “The Fatherland or death we will conquer”, it’s as if we were always at war. The best thing is to reorganize to soften this motto a little, because it sounds as if it were in some way a war. We can keep this motto in archives or in other circumstances.”
Justin Bakouan, French teacher in Koudougou: “We need such mottos to galvanize the population”
“The Fatherland or Death We Will Conquer is a motto born in a revolutionary context and the leaders of the time had made this commitment to restore the dignity, integrity and sovereignty of the Burkinabe. And returning to this same motto is to restore things further. The authorities themselves have said it, that it is cultivating the patriotic fiber, so it is a good thing and it expresses all our attachment, our will and our pride to belong to Burkina Faso. Compared to the context of insecurity in which we live, we need such mottos to galvanize the populations.”
Zéphirin Kouraogo, farmer in Koupèla: “The return to the old motto is a very welcome thing”
“I welcomed with great joy the project to change the motto of Burkina Faso. The motto “Homeland or death, we will conquer” draws its source from the name of our country. This revolutionary slogan reveals many things related to our ancestors. This return to the old motto is therefore very appreciable. It has its reason for being. It is normal that it be brought up to date. If the government did not take this measure of changing the motto, we would ask it to do so. Because it will bring a lot to Burkina Faso. From the point of view of citizenship, this slogan will touch the inner strength of the populations by giving them the courage to take over the forces of evil. In view of the context of insecurity that the country is going through, the Burkinabe need patriotic terms that bring them back to their ancestral values. This will give rise in them to the rage to defeat the enemy. “Homeland or death, we will win” also allows the Burkinabe citizen to be an artisan of development, in the sense that it will lead the populations to be more patriotic and more hard-working to develop the country.
Amado Sawadogo, worker in the industrial zone of Bobo-Dioulasso: “It reflects the commitment of the Burkinabe”
“Homeland or death we will conquer” is the real motto that reflects the commitment of the Burkinabe. This motto expresses patriotism, courage in the fight for freedom and development symbolized by the Kalashnikov and the daba. We were born to find this motto that fits well with the spirit of the people, especially currently when the country is facing the security and humanitarian challenge. And returning to this motto will rekindle the flame of patriotism and determination to commit to the reconquest of the territory. So I positively appreciate this step backwards.”
Didier Sanou, driver in Bobo-Dioulasso: “It’s normal and logical that we return to the old motto”
“It is normal and logical that we return to the old motto since the flag and the coat of arms have not changed. I agree with this decision of the government and it goes straight to my heart.”
Soumaïla Sawadogo, school and university administration attaché in Bobo-Dioulasso: “For me, returning to the source is ideal”
“I think that this is the ideal thing to do. We should not change for the sake of change. We had changed for Unity-Progress-Justice, are we in progress up to now? Have we reached this unity? Is there justice? Considering all this,
I think that the homeland comes first
So for me, returning to the source is ideal.”
Daouda Keïta, a trader in Bobo-Dioulasso: “We are almost in a revolutionary situation”
“The change of the motto is welcome, because at the time of the Revolution it was “Homeland or death, we will conquer.” We are almost in the same situation. I encourage the government in its commitment to the fight for the total independence of the country. This decision is a very good thing.
Abdoul Karim Koné, retired in Bobo-Dioulasso: “The decision to return to the old motto pleased us all”
“The decision to return to the old motto pleased us all and we ask the good Lord to grant the government the necessary strength to continue the fight and that peace can return to Burkina Faso.”
Hamed Ouédraogo, trader at the Rood Woko market: It is full of meaning.”
“I appreciate this new vision. Those who decided on the motto of
“Homeland or death, we will win” know that it is full of meaning in relation to Unity-Progress-Justice.
Inoussa Belem, trader (Ouagadougou): “It’s a good decision”
“It is a good decision for me that we have returned to the motto “Homeland or death, we will win”. Because the motto Unity-Progress-Justice has come to kill the patriotic fiber of the Burkinabe.”
Désiré Kafando, trader (Ouagadougou): “In all things, we must defend the homeland”
“The change of the motto is a good thing. We see that everything comes back to the Revolution. It is Sankarism. We are in a period of war and this change will galvanize the civil status or the army engaged in the theater of operations. Because in all things, we must defend the homeland. I think that is why Thomas Sankara said, Homeland or death, we will win. It is a good thing in my opinion. We wish President Ibrahim Traoré every success.”
Halidou Congo, trader (Ouagadougou): “It’s a normal decision.”
“It’s a normal decision. For me, it’s not a change. Normally, it’s ‘Homeland or death, we will win’ that’s our motto. We have to fight for the homeland first.”
Zoulkarnain Kanazoé, trader (Ouagadougou): “We have been waiting for this change for a long time”
“We have been waiting for this change for a long time. So, if today we have returned to this motto again, we are very happy. We are very proud. We pray that God protects Burkina.”
Comments collected by the Editors