Definition

Proper noun 1. A former name for the country Burkina Faso: "Upper Volta" was the colonial and early post-colonial name for a landlocked country in West Africa, used until 1984. 2. A historical political entity: Specifically refers to the French colony (1919-1932, 1947-1958) and the subsequent independent republic (1958-1984) before its renaming.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The nation known as Upper Volta gained independence from France in 1960.
  • He studied the political history of Upper Volta in the 1970s.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Geopolitical Context: The term "Upper Volta" is now primarily used in a historical context to discuss events prior to August 1984.
  • The 1983 coup in Upper Volta set the stage for the country's renaming.

Variants and Related Words

• Burkina Faso (Proper noun): The current name of the country, adopted in 1984. It means "Land of Honest (Incorruptible) People."
• Voltaic (Adjective): Pertaining to the Volta River or the region. Historically used in names like "Republic of Upper Volta."

Synonyms

• Historical synonym: Republic of Upper Volta (Official name from 1958-1984).

Notes on Meaning

• The name "Upper Volta" derived from the Volta River, whose upper branches (the Black, Red, and White Volta) flow through the country.
• It is crucial to use "Upper Volta" only when referring to the country in a historical context. For contemporary references, "Burkina Faso" is the correct and current term.

Noun

1. a desperately poor landlocked country in western Africa; was formerly Upper Volta under French rule but gained independence in 1960