French Upper Volta and two years later on 5 August 1960, it attained full independence. On 4 August 1984, the name was changed to Burkina Faso. The name Upper Volta indicates that the country contains the upper part of the Volta River. The river is divided into three parts, called the Black Volta, White Volta and Red Volta. Until the end of the 19th century, the history of Upper Volta was dominated by the empire-building Mossi/Mossi Kingdoms, who are believed to have come up to their present location from present-day Northern Ghana. For centuries, the Mossi peasant was both farmer and soldier, and
Merry company with two men and two women and colour. Burger regarded it as a Vermeer ; see Gazette des Beaux Arts for 1866, p. 551, No. 14. Panel, 27 inches by 22 1/2 inches. In the collection of Baron Delessert, 1833 (Sm.). Sales. Francois Delessert, Paris, May 15, 1869, No. 36 (150,000 francs). B. Narischkine, Paris, April 5, 1883 (160,000 francs). Secrétan, Paris, July 1, 1889 (270,000 francs). Afterwards in the possession of Durand-Ruel of Paris. Now in the Havemeyer collection in New York." Merry company with two men and two women Merry company with two men and two women (1657) is an oil on panel painting