Italy: A statue of Thomas Sankara stands in Rome
On October 24, 2026, a monument honoring Captain Thomas Sankara was officially unveiled at Thomas Sankara Park in Rome’s third district. Led by the Burkinabé diaspora, this historic initiative illustrates the driving role played by Burkinabé living abroad in promoting Burkina Faso’s international profile and strengthening diplomatic ties.
It is a steel prism, two meters high and 70 centimeters wide, carved in the likeness of the Father of the Democratic and Popular Revolution (RDP), which now stands in the Italian capital. This prism, installed in the Thomas Sankara Exhibition Park in Rome’s Third District, was donated by Madi Sakandé, a Burkinabe living in Italy. The prism, which honors Thomas Sankara in Rome 39 years after his assassination, bears the signature of Hamed Sékou Ouattara, a member of the Burkinabé diaspora living in the United States.
Beyond its artistic value, the creation of the monument demonstrates the ability of the Burkinabé diaspora to contribute to the memory and influence of Burkina Faso. By fostering intercultural dialogue and brotherhood between Rome and Ouagadougou, members of the Burkinabé diaspora affirm their role as ambassadors of development and citizen diplomacy. In Rome, the presence of Burkinabé and Italian officials, as well as diplomatic representatives, lent this commemoration a spirit of cooperation and friendship. The diaspora thus serves as a bridge: it shares the history of Burkina Faso while fostering lasting exchanges with Italy
SANKARA, THE ETERNAL WATCHMAN
The creation of the prism, entrusted to Hamed Sékou Ouattara, highlights the expertise of a Burkinabé artist living in the United States. He is a Burkinabé artist and designer and the founder of the Hamed Ouattara studio based in Ouagadougou. In fact, it was in this studio in Ouagadougou that the prism titled “SANKARA, THE ETERNAL WATCHMAN” was crafted. “The entire work was designed at Studio Hamed Ouattara in Ouagadougou—from the sculptural approach and the recessed portrait to the embossed surface and even the cutting files. The metal sheets were then laser-cut, and the embossed patterns were formed by specialized workshops in the Bologna region. The monument was assembled in Bologna,” explains Hamed Sékou Ouattara.
Through this lens—which showcases the image of Captain Thomas Sankara in Rome thanks to the talent of artist Hamed Sékou Ouattara—the Burkinabè diaspora proves that the ideals of justice, dignity, and sovereignty know no borders. Burkinabè living abroad remain the beating heart of the “Land of Honest Men’s” influence throughout the world.
M’pempé Bernard HIEN
