Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Burkina Faso recipes, part of the African Continent. This page provides links to all the Burkinabé/Burkinese recipes presented on this site, with 26 recipes in total.

Burkina Faso (also known as Burkina) is one of the three landlocked countries in West Africa. The name itself can be translated "men of integrity," from the Moré language, and "Faso" means "father's house" in Dioula. Independence from France came in 1960. The 11,946,065 Burkinabè belong to two major West African cultural groups--the Voltaic and the Mandé. The Voltaic are far more numerous and include the Mossi, who make up about one-half of the population. Additionally, about 5,000 Europeans live in Burkina Faso. Approximately 50% of the population is Muslim; Christians account for about 30%, and followers of traditional African religions (typically animism of various forms) make up about 20%. Many Christians incorporate elements of animism into their religious practices. 

Burkinabé/Burkinese cuisine is traditionally West African and the country's staples are peanuts, millet and sorghum. Meat is little used, but fish is a common ingredient as are the country's fruit: bananas, avocados, grapefruits, mangos, papayas, coconut and plantains. The most important local vegetables are: cassava, Eggplant, maize, okra, sweet potatoes, onions, tomatoes, turnip and yams.

Burkina Faso, (Burkĩna Faso in Mossi; 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮𞥅 inn Fula and ߓߙߎߞߌߣߊ߫ ߝߊ߬ߛߏ߫ in Dyula), is a landlocked country in West Africa,[6] bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. It covers an area of 274,223 km². In 2021, the country had an estimated population of approximately 23,674,480.[14] Previously called the Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), it was renamed Burkina Faso by former president Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabè,[b] and its capital and largest city is Ouagadougou.

The largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso is the Mossi people, who settled the area in the 11th and 13th centuries. They established powerful kingdoms such as the Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, and Yatenga. In 1896, it was colonized by the French as part of French West Africa; in 1958, Upper Volta became a self-governing colony within the French Community. In 1960, it gained full independence with Maurice Yaméogo as president. Since it gained its independence, the country has been subject to instability, droughts, famines and corruption. There have also been various coups, in 1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, and twice in 2022 (January and September). There were also unsuccessful coup attempts in 1989, 2015, and 2023.

Thomas Sankara came to power following a successful coup in 1983. As president, Sankara embarked on a series of ambitious socioeconomic reforms which included a nationwide literacy campaign, land redistribution to peasants, vaccinations for over 2 million children, railway and road construction, equalized access to education, and the outlawing of female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and polygamy. He served as the country's president until 1987 when he was deposed and assassinated in a coup led by Blaise Compaoré, who became president and ruled the country until his removal on 31 October 2014.

Since the mid-2010s, Burkina Faso has been severely affected by the rise of insurgencies in the Sahel. Several militias, partly allied with the Islamic State (IS) or al-Qaeda, operate in Burkina Faso and across the border in Mali and Niger. More than one million of the country's 21 million inhabitants are internally displaced persons. Burkina Faso's military seized power in a coup d'état on 23 and 24 January 2022, overthrowing President Roch Marc Kaboré. On 31 January, the military junta restored the constitution and appointed Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba as interim president, but he was himself overthrown in a second coup on 30 September and replaced by military captain Ibrahim Traoré.

Burkina Faso remains one of the least developed countries in the world, with a GDP of $16.226 billion in 2022. Approximately 63.8% of its population practices Islam, while 26.3% practices Christianity. The country's four official languages are Mooré, Bissa, Dyula and Fula, with the first one being spoken by over half the population; the Burkinabè government also officially recognizes 60 indigenous languages. The former government and business language was French until January 2024, whose status was demoted to that of a 'working language' alongside English by ratification of a constitutional amendment.

Formerly the Republic of Upper Volta, the country was renamed 'Burkina Faso' on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. The words 'Burkina' and 'Faso' stem from different languages spoken in the country: 'Burkina' comes from Mooré and means 'upright', showing how the people are proud of their integrity, while 'Faso' comes from the Dyula language (as written in N'Ko: ߝߊ߬ߛߏ߫ faso) and means 'fatherland' (literally, 'father's house'). The '-bé' suffix added onto 'Burkina' to form the demonym 'Burkinabé' comes from the Fula language and means 'women or men'. The CIA summarizes the etymology as 'land of the honest (incorruptible) men'.

Burkinabé/Burkinese Cuisine

Typical of West African cuisine, Burkina Faso's cuisine is based on staple foods of sorghum, millet, rice, maize, peanuts, potatoes, beans, yams and okra. The most common sources of animal protein are chicken, chicken eggs and freshwater fish. A typical Burkinabè beverage is Banji or Palm Wine, which is fermented palm sap; and Zoom-kom, or 'grain water' purportedly the national drink of Burkina Faso. Zoom-kom is milky-looking and whitish, having a water and cereal base, best drunk with ice cubes. In the more rural regions, in the outskirts of Burkina, you would find Dolo, which is drink made from fermented millet. In times of crisis, one legume native to Burkina, Zamnè, can be served as a main dish or in a sauce.