Burkina Faso — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

SONAPOST (Société Nationale des Postes du Burkina) is Burkina Faso’s national postal operator. Burkina Faso’s philatelic history spans French colonial Haute-Volta (Upper Volta) stamps (1920–1944), French West Africa collective stamps (1944–1958), Upper Volta republic stamps (1959–1984), and Burkina Faso stamps from 1984 after Thomas Sankara’s revolutionary government renamed the country (Burkina Faso means “Land of Honest People” in Mossi and Dioula). The name change creates distinct collecting periods.

Notable Stamp Issues

Upper Volta’s first stamps in 1920 were the standard French colonial type. French West Africa stamps served the territory 1944–1958. Independent Upper Volta stamps from 1960 depicted traditional Mossi horsemen, Ouagadougou’s Grand Mosque, and West African cultural heritage. Thomas Sankara’s revolutionary government (1983–1987) produced politically charged stamps before his assassination. Burkina Faso stamps since 1984 feature the sacred Karité shea tree, Sahelian wildlife (the hooded vulture, West African giraffe), and the FESPACO Pan-African film festival.

Collecting Tips

Yvert & Tellier covers French Upper Volta stamps. Scott Africa covers the republic periods. The Upper Volta/Burkina Faso name change (1984) divides collecting into two eras. Thomas Sankara stamps are popular with Pan-African history collectors — he was one of Africa’s most charismatic revolutionary leaders. FESPACO (Pan-African film festival) stamps are unique cinema thematic items. West African giraffe stamps from Burkina Faso attract wildlife collectors — the West African subspecies is endangered. Mossi cultural stamps are distinctive West African ethnographic subjects.

Part of the Africa Postal Directory.