List of Burkinabes

This is a list of notable people from Burkina Faso, formerly French Upper Volta.

Filmmakers

 * Sarah Bouyain (born 1968), French-Burkinabé film director
 * Gaston Kaboré (born 1951), film director
 * Fanta Régina Nacro (born 1962), film director
 * Idrissa Ouedraogo (born 1954), film and television director whose films include Yaaba (1989)
 * Pierre Rouamba (1951–2023)

Politicians

 * Boureima Badini, Minister of Justice from 1999 to 2007
 * Laurent Bado, member of the National Rebirth Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Ali Barraud, Minister of Public Health and Population for Upper Volta
 * Djibril Bassolé (born 1957), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation from June 2007
 * Blaise Bassoleth (1920–1976), member of the French Senate from 1958 to 1959
 * Juliette Bonkoungou (born 1954), Burkinabé ambassador to Canada
 * Blaise Compaoré (born 1951), President of Burkina Faso from 1987
 * Simon Compaoré (born 1952), Mayor of Ouagadougou
 * Joseph Conombo (1917–2008), President of Upper Volta from 1978 to 1980
 * Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly (1909–1958), president of governing council of Upper Volta from 1957 to 1958
 * Toubé Clément Dakio (born 1939), member of the Union for Democracy and Development party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Noellie Marie Béatri Damiba (born 1951), journalist and diplomat
 * Bernadette Sanou Dao (born 1952), Burkinabé Minister for Culture from 1986 to 1987
 * Frédéric Guirma, politician, head of the RDA and 2001 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Emile Ilboudo, ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire
 * Nayabtigungu Congo Kaboré (born 1948), leader of the Movement for Tolerance and Progress party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (born 1957), President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso
 * Michel Kafando (born 1942), Burkinabé ambassador to the United Nations
 * Joseph Ki-Zerbo (1922–2006), politician, historian, writer and activist
 * Begnon-Damien Kone (1921/1922–1986), member of the French Senate from 1958 to 1959
 * Lompolo Koné (1921–1974), Foreign Minister of Upper Volta from 1961 to 1966
 * Yabre Juliette Kongo (born 1966), member of National Assemblu
 * Zakalia Koté, Minister of Justice from 2007 to 2011
 * Sangoulé Lamizana (1916–2005), President of Upper Volta from 1966 to 1980
 * Ali Lankoandé, member of the Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Ablassé Ouedraogo, Regional Adviser for Africa within the African Development Bank and former foreign minister for Burkina Faso
 * Gérard Kango Ouédraogo (1925–2014), Prime Minister for Upper Volta from 1971 to 1974
 * Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, member of the Pan-African Parliament
 * Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo (born 1942), President of Upper Volta from 1982 to 1983
 * Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo (born 1953), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 1996 to 2000, Burkinabé ambassador to the United Kingdom
 * Philippe Ouédraogo (born 1942), leader of the African Independence Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Ram Ouédraogo (born 1950), member of the Rally of the Democrats of Burkina party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Youssouf Ouédraogo (born 1952), first Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, serving from 1992 to 1994
 * Pargui Emile Paré, member of the People's Movement for Socialism/Federal Party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Bénéwendé Stanislas Sankara (born 1959), president of the Union for Rebirth / Sankarist Movement party and 2005 Burkina Faso presidential candidate
 * Thomas Sankara (1949–1987), first President of Burkina Faso serving from 1984 to 1987, also president of Upper Volta from 1983 to 1984
 * Thomas Sanon (born 1947), businessman, politician, diplomat
 * Clément Sawadogo, Minister of the Civil Service, Labour and Social Security
 * Marie Blandine Sawadogo, member of the Pan African Parliament
 * Salimata Sawadogo (born 1958), Burkinabé ambassador to several African countries
 * Laurent Sedego (born 1956), former military officer and cabinet member
 * Nouhoun Sigue (1911–2004), member of the French Senate from 1948 to 1952
 * Diongolo Traore (1914–1971), member of the French Senate from 1952 to 1958
 * Hermann Yaméogo (born 1948), leader of the National Union for the Defence of Democracy party
 * Maurice Yaméogo (1921–1993), first President of Upper Volta, serving from 1983 to 1984
 * Salvador Yaméogo, Minister of Transportation and Tourism
 * Oubkiri Marc Yao, member of the Pan African Parliament
 * Larba Yarga, member of the Pan African Parliament
 * Paramanga Ernest Yonli (born 1956), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from 2000 to 2007
 * Marlène Zebango, Minister for Youth and Sports from 1991 to 1993
 * Saye Zerbo (1932–2013), President of Upper Volta from 1980 to 1982
 * Tertius Zongo (born 1957), Prime Minister of Burkina Faso from June 2007
 * Alain Zoubga (born 1953), medical doctor and leader of the Party for Democracy and Progress / Socialist Party

Sportspeople

 * Joris Bado (born 1991), basketball player
 * Oumar Barro (born 1974), sluo player
 * Tanguy Barro (born 1982), soccer player
 * Abdoulaye Cissé (born 1983), soccer player
 * Brahima Cissé (born 1976), soccer player
 * Daouda Compaoré (born 1973), soccer player
 * Henoc Conombo (born 1986), soccer player
 * Amadou Coulibaly (born 1984), soccer player
 * Moumouni Dagano (born 1981), soccer player
 * Maxime D'Hoore (born 1978), soccer player
 * Mohamed Ali Diallo, soccer player
 * Salif Dianda (born 1987), soccer player
 * Madou Dossama (born 1972), soccer player
 * Ibrahim Gnanou (born 1986), former soccer player
 * Jean-Michel Liade Gnonka (born 1980), soccer player
 * Abdoul Aziz Kaboré (born 1994), soccer player
 * Mohamed Kaboré (born 1980), DAVE
 * Bèbè Kambou (born 1982), soccer player
 * Pascal Karama (born 1993), soccer player
 * Mahamoudou Kéré (born 1982), soccer player
 * Nathanio Kompaoré (born 2001), soccer player
 * Yssouf Koné (born 1982), soccer player
 * Brahima Korbeogo (born 1975), soccer player
 * Pierre Koulibaly (born 1986), soccer player
 * Moustapha Kourouma (born 1977), soccer player
 * Dieudonné Minoungou (born 1981), soccer player
 * Toussaint Natama (born 1982), soccer player
 * Abdoul-Aziz Nikiema (born 1985), soccer player
 * Amara Ahmed Ouattara (born 1983), soccer player
 * Boureima Ouattara (born 1984), soccer player
 * Moussa Ouattara (born 1981), soccer player
 * Ali Ouédraogo (born 1976), soccer player
 * Rabaki Jérémie Ouédraogo (born 1973), road racing cyclist
 * Rahim Ouédraogo (born 1980), soccer player
 * Saïdou Panandétiguiri (born 1984), soccer player
 * Jonathan Pitroipa (born 1986), soccer player
 * Florent Rouamba (born 1986), soccer player
 * Firmin Sanou (born 1973), soccer player
 * Idrissa Sanou (born 1977), sprinter
 * Olivier Sanou (born 1975), high jumper and triple jumper
 * Abroubagui Salbre (born 1993), soccer player
 * Ousmane Sanou (born 1978), soccer player
 * Wilfried Sanou (born 1984), soccer player
 * Cheick Sanou (born 1992), Strongman
 * Abdoulaye Soulama (born 1974), soccer player
 * Amadou Tidiane Tall (born 1975), soccer player
 * Mamadou Tall (born 1982), soccer player
 * Soumaila Tassembedo (born 1983), soccer player
 * Amadou Touré (born 1979), soccer player
 * Alain Traoré (born 1988), soccer player
 * Bertrand Traoré (born 1995), soccer player
 * Lamine Traoré (born 1982), soccer player
 * Ousmane Traoré (born 1977), soccer player
 * Seydou Traoré (born 1970), soccer player
 * Narcisse Yaméogo (born 1980), soccer player
 * Franck Zio (born 1971), long jumper
 * Issa Zongo (born 1980), soccer player
 * Mamadou Zongo (born 1980), soccer player
 * Patrick Zoundi (born 1982), soccer player

Writers
See: List of Burkinabé writers

Others

 * Georgie Badiel, model, beauty queen, activist and author
 * Fatouma Bintou Djibo, United Nations representative in Niger
 * Marie Odile Bonkoungou-Balima, former Minister for Education and ambassador to Germany
 * Chantal Compaoré, wife of Burkinabé President Blaise Compaoré
 * Gabin Dabiré, musician
 * Christine Kafando, HIV/AIDS activist
 * Diébédo Francis Kéré, architect and founding principal of Kéré Architecture
 * Bil Aka Kora, musician
 * Mogho Naba, King of the Mossi people
 * Roukiata Ouedraogo, playwright and actress
 * Philippe Ouédraogo (cardinal) (born 1945)
 * Philomaine Nanema, aka Philo (born 1982), comedian and actress
 * Yennenga, legendary African princess, mother of the Mossi people
 * Henri Zongo (died 1989), military officer involved in the 1987 coup d'état in Burkina Faso
 * Ousmane Zongo (1960–2003), arts trader killed by American police officers in New York City
 * Lassina Zerbo (born 1963), Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
 * Hamidou Toure (born 1954), mathematician who has played a significant role in the development of mathematics programs in Burkina Faso, from the pre-school level to university level.