Ouagadougou: Jean Herv© Louari, an admirer of President Captain Thomas Sankara, handed over the famous red guitar of the captain to the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Pingdwend© Ou©draogo, as part of the collection of archives and artifacts of the father of the August 1983 Revolution.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Louari received the guitar from President Thomas Sankara more than fifteen years ago through his older brother Fran§ois Tapsoba, who was a soloist with the Voltaic Harmony. Louari shared that President Sankara would send commandos to fetch Tapsoba at midnight to play music at the Council of the Entente, after which Tapsoba would return with the guitar to Dapoya.
Louari recounted that Sankara gifted the guitar to him because of his admiration for the president and his status as an honorary member of the orchestra, of which Sankara was also a member. He noted that the guitar was originally a gift to Sankara from Gabonese President Omar Bongo. Louari expressed no hesitation in returning the guitar, acknowledging its significance as a national heritage.
During a presentation in Ouagadougou, Minister Pingdwend© Gilbert Ou©draogo praised Louari's patriotic gesture and encouraged others holding property of President Sankara to do the same.