African Elephant
Burkina Faso's national symbol is the elephant, and small herds still roam protected reserves in the southern part of the country.
Flag of Burkina Faso
Field Report
Burkina Faso is a small, landlocked country in the middle of West Africa, sitting just below the edge of the Sahara Desert where the land is flat, dry, and covered in golden savanna grass. More than 22 million people live there, speaking dozens of different languages and following traditions that go back hundreds of years. It is one of the least-reached places on earth, which means many of its people are still waiting to hear about Jesus for the very first time.
From the Field Notebook
African Elephant
Burkina Faso's national symbol is the elephant, and small herds still roam protected reserves in the southern part of the country.
Nile Crocodile
In the village of Bazoulé, sacred crocodiles live in a pond alongside people and have done so peacefully for generations, a sight unlike almost anywhere else on earth.
African Fish Eagle
This sharp-eyed raptor hunts along the rivers and reservoirs of Burkina Faso, diving feet-first to snatch fish from the water.
Tô
Tô is a thick, smooth porridge made from millet or sorghum flour that most families in Burkina Faso eat every single day, scooped up with a sauce of leafy greens or peanuts.
Riz Gras
Riz gras, which means 'fat rice,' is a one-pot dish of rice cooked with tomatoes, onions, and meat that fills the air with a rich, savory smell at celebrations and market days.
Dolo
Dolo is a traditional fermented drink brewed from red sorghum by women in villages across the country, and buying it at a roadside stall is a common part of daily community life.
Burkina Faso sits in the heart of West Africa and has no coastline at all — it is surrounded entirely by six other countries: Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire.
The name Burkina Faso comes from two different local languages and means 'Land of Incorruptible People' — a name its leaders chose in 1984 to express a hope for honest leadership.
The country is home to more than 60 different people groups, each with its own language, traditions, and way of life.
Burkina Faso is one of the world's leading producers of cotton, and farmers across the flat savanna landscape grow it as their most important cash crop.
The Sahara Desert is slowly creeping southward into Burkina Faso, a process called desertification that turns grassland to sand and makes farming harder every decade.
Daily Life
61
Years life expectancy
41%
Can read and write
79%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Burkina Faso is home to 77 distinct people groups — 27 of them haven’t yet heard about Jesus.
About half of Burkina Faso's people follow Islam (54.8%). Evangelical Christians make up about 10.7% of the population.
What People Believe
Unreached People Groups
These are communities of people who haven’t had the chance to hear about Jesus yet. They need missionaries — and they need kids like you to pray for them.
Dyula
2,456,000 people
Fulani, Western
1,420,000 people
Fulani, Northeastern Burkina
472,000 people
Lobi
356,000 people
Bobo Madare
293,000 people
Prayer Journal
Tick each one as you pray. God hears every word.