Flag of Burkina Faso of black, white, and red. These colours represented the three major tributaries of the Volta River, which flows south through the country: the Black Volta, the White Volta and the Red Volta. It is similar to the tricolor flag used by the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The flag was changed when Upper Volta became Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984. From 1984 until 1997, the official Burkina Faso coat of arms used a revolutionary central crest featuring a mattock crossed with a Soviet AK-47 assault rifle, along with an open book symbolising the importance of education and the
Republic of Upper Volta Commissioner: From 1971 to 1987, the Republic of Upper Volta was reigned by Prime Minister: The three colors of the national flag of Upper Volta come from the fact that the Volta has three parts: In French: Verse 1: "Fière Volta de mes aieux," "Ton soleil ardent et glorieux" "Te revêt d'or et de fierté" "Ô Reine drapée de loyauté !" Refrain: "Nous te ferons et plus forte, et plus belle" "À ton amour nous resterons fidèles" "Et nos cœurs vibrant de fierté" "Acclameront ta beauté" "Vers l'horizon lève les yeux" "Frémis aux accents tumultueux" "De tes fiers enfants tous