Kéré Architecture Honors Revolutionary Legacy with New Mausoleum in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – Kéré Architecture has officially completed the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, a profound architectural tribute to Burkina Faso’s former president and revolutionary leader. Located on the historic site of Sankara’s 1987 assassination, the new structure transforms a location once associated with tragedy into a vibrant space of hope, remembrance, and communal healing.
A Design Rooted in the Earth Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Diébédo Francis Kéré, the 450-square-meter mausoleum is a testament to sustainable, vernacular architecture. The structure is constructed primarily from locally sourced laterite stone and clay bricks. This material choice not only minimizes the carbon footprint but also honors Sankara’s political philosophy, which championed local production and economic self-reliance.
The building features a distinct rounded volume topped by a broad, 34-meter-wide dome. Its exterior is punctuated by 13 triangular openings, symbolizing the twelve officials who lost their lives alongside Sankara. These voids allow natural light and air to flow freely through the space, connecting the solemn interior with the surrounding landscape.
Solar-Aligned Remembrance The interior design is intimately linked to the cosmos, creating a dynamic experience for visitors. The thirteen tombs are arranged concentrically, each positioned beneath a dedicated skylight. In a poetic interplay of light and shadow, the sun illuminates a different tomb each hour as it moves across the sky, guiding visitors through a "new space of remembrance."
Contrasting with the warm, reddish-orange hues of the earth bricks, the interior features pastel-green and yellow steel accents on the doors and railings, adding a layer of contemporary vibrancy to the solemn space.
Part of a Larger Vision The completion of the mausoleum marks the first phase of the ambitious Thomas Sankara Memorial Park. This wider 14-hectare urban project will eventually include a 100-meter-tall monument tower, educational facilities, and extensive green spaces, integrating the memorial into the daily life of Ouagadougou.
"This is the first time I have been asked to take on the responsibility of constructing a building in memory of a great figure," said Francis Kéré. The result is a sanctuary that invites the people of Burkina Faso to gather, reflect, and celebrate their history.
