Where is Burkina Faso?

Maps must be revised all the time to take account of place name changes. Since 1950, many colonies have gained independence and changed place names that they associate with the past. For example, the French Colony of Upper Volta, which took its name from the River Volta, became independent in 1960, but it took 24 years before it was renamed Burkina Faso, which means ‘land of the upright men’.

Not all new place names win approval. For instance, the English county of Shropshire adopted an older name, Salop, in 1974. But this proved unpopular and the name Shropshire was restored in 1980.