Bobo-Dioulasso

File:ASC Leiden - van Achterberg Collection - 5 - 009 - Panneau avec inscription "Consasso. La maison du premier ancêtre de Bobodioula Bobo dit sya" - Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 19-26 août 2001.tif

File:Pg383 Croquis de Sia ou Bobo-Dioulasou.jpg

According to local tradition, Bobo-Dioulasso was founded as Sia in the 15th century.{{cite web |title=Bobo-Dioulasso |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bobo-Dioulasso |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=25 February 2025}} Populated by the Oule and Dioula subgroups of the Bobo people, it became an important market center, particularly in the export of horses southwards.{{cite book |last1=Cisse |first1=Chikouna |editor1-last=Werthmann |editor1-first=Katja |editor2-last=Sanogo |editor2-first=Mohamed Lamine |title=La ville de Bobo-Dioulasso au Burkina Faso: Urbanité et appartenances en Afrique de l'Ouest |date=2013 |publisher=Karthala Editions |page=69 |language=French |chapter=Bobo-Dioulasso dans l’histoire ouest-africaine: de la revolution dioula de Kong a la fin de l’ere coloniale (1710-1960)}} Sia was therefore an important link in the developing trade routes linking Djenne and the Inner Niger Delta to Kong, Begho and ultimately the Gold Coast.{{sfn|Şaul|1998|p=544}}{{sfn|McFarland|Rupley|1998|p=17}}

Kong's growing influence in the region culminated in the reign of Seku Watara, who established the Kong Empire in 1710. His brother Famagan Watara and sons Kere-Mori and Bamba Watara played important roles in conquering Sia and subjugating the native Bobo-Dioula and Bobo-Oule in the late 1730s.{{sfn|Şaul|1998|p=547}} After Seku's death, however, Famagan's descendants ruled the region, known as Gwiriko, with near-autonomy from the senior branch based in Kong.{{sfn|Şaul|1998|p=551}}

At the end of the nineteenth century, Sia consisted of two large villages, Tunuma and Sia proper, located a few hundred meters from each other and bounded by {{convert|10|to(-)|15|ft|m|round=0.5|adj=mid|abbr=off|-deep|order=flip}} ravines on either side, carved by the We (Houët) river to the east and by its tributary Sanyo to the west. Three small satellite villages were located beyond this natural border. A number of other independent villages in the surroundings (Bindogoso, Dogona, Kwirima, Kpa) have since been absorbed by the developing city and are now within its municipal boundaries.{{cn|date = February 2025}}

Kongondinn and Yemori, Watara rulers of the city, fought a series of wars against the Kenedougou Kingdom to the west in the 1870s, 80s and 90s.{{sfn|Tauxier|2003|p=65}}

File:Pg381 Des hommes sur les toits s'opposent.jpg entry into Bobo-Diolasso, from Louis Gustave Binger: Du Niger au Golfe de Guinée, par le pays de Kong et le Mossi, 1892.]]

In 1896 the Bobo-Dioula, rebelling against the Watara, allied with Samory Toure in his attack on their traditional overlords, helping him to capture the nearby stronghold of Noumoudara. The local Watara leader Pintyeba appealed for help from the French, who were already established in Diebougou.{{sfn|Tauxier|2003|p=75-6}} On September 25, 1897, the French briefly occupied Sia after a brief but bloody confrontation.{{sfn|Saul|Royer|2001|p=71-2}} On November 23rd a military post was established, and later an administrative settlement on the east side of the We River. This became the headquarters of a district (cercle) of the same name, Bobo-Dioulasso. This military post was the starting point for one of the columns aiming to capture Sikasso, capital of Kenedougou, in April 1898.{{sfn|Tauxier|2003|p=80}}

During the 1915-16 Volta-Bani anti-colonial war, the population in the north and east of district Bobo-Dioulasso took up arms against the French colonial government. The French based their activities in the city in an effort to suppress the insurrection, while the city itself became a center for the organization of the suppression.{{sfn|Saul|Royer|2001|p=218}} A colonial military base was established in the southern sector of the city, adding to its growing importance.

In 1927 the French razed the old village of Tunuma and the other settlements; their population was relocated either to neighboring villages or to a previously farmed empty zone {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=off|0|spell=on}} away. It was made available for redevelopment as a residential neighborhood (the current neighborhood of Tounouma).Laurent Fourchard, "Propriétaires et commerçants africains à Ouagadougou et à Bobo-Dioulasso, fin 19ème siècle-1960," Journal of African History 44(2003), p. 441.

Sia proper, which survives today as the Dioulasoba neighborhood, was partly spared this total destruction. It was dramatically modified in 1932 when a large road artery was built through it and by the widening of streets in successive urban renewal projects. Between 1926 and 1929, the French colonial government constructed a typical European grid pattern of new avenues and streets in the city, intersected by diagonals radiating from a center, with square urban lots between them. This established the framework for the modern city center.

The Abidjan Railway reached Bobo-Dioulasso in 1934, increasing its access to markets, transportation, and communications.{{sfn|McFarland|Rupley|1998|p=xli}} But the growth of the city as a colonial industrial center halted because of the world economic crisis during the Great Depression, as well as the suppression of the colony of Upper Volta in 1933. The city started expanding again after World War II. Reorganization of the colony of Upper Volta in 1947 attracted business to Bobo-Dioulasso, although Ouagadougou had been selected as the capital. An early industrial center, Bobo-Dioulasso is also the hub of a rich agricultural zone, which produces food grains, fruits and seedlings (mangos, citrus), and export crops (cotton, cashews, and shea butter).{{sfn|McFarland|Rupley|1998|p=17}}

File:Bobo-Dioulasso TownHall2.jpg

Due to its strong economic contributions, following the nation's gaining independence in 1960, the city was called "the economic capital of the country" (as opposed to the administrative capital, Ouagadougou). Bobo-Dioulasso's economic advantage vis-à-vis the capital has declined following decades of government policy favoring Ouagadougou. Little new industry arrived in the city during the 1980s and 1990s. Some enterprises either closed down or relocated to the capital. Economic life was primarily reduced to commerce grounded in the agriculture of the region and services. {{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

Since 2000 the city of Bobo-Dioulasso has enjoyed a new growth spurt, gaining in population and economic vitality. Residents have returned home following the internal crisis in neighboring Ivory Coast, and the economy has been stimulated by new demands for its goods. The central government has invested more development funds in the city; for example, the new West African Centre for Economic and Social Studies is a college intended as the first piece of development of the second university of the country.

The city features historic buildings reflecting its complex past:

• Konsa house, the ritual center of a senior house of the Zara (or Bobo-Jula) group.
• Dafra, a sacred natural pond and the source of the We River, in its southern quarter. The pond is a site of pilgrimage. People make offerings consumed by the giant catfish living in it.
• the mausoleum of Guimbi Ouattara, a notable ruler of Bobo-Dioulasso in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.{{cite book|author1=Katrina Manson|author2=James Knight|author3=Gill Harvey|title=Burkina Faso|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=16a6IbAi4rsC&pg=PA288|year=2011|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-352-8|pages=288–}}

Bobo-Dioulasso has well-preserved examples of the colonial-era architecture in what is called "neo-Sudanic" style (examples: the museum building, the train station). A regional museum interprets the long history and artifacts recovered in archeological work. A zoo and a pottery market are among the city's attractions.

The École française André Malraux, a French international school, has maternelle (preschool) through collège served.[http://www.ambafrance-bf.org/Ecole-francaise-Andre-Malraux "Bobo Dioulasso : École française André Malraux"]. Embassy of France in Burkina Faso. Retrieved on 19 January 2015.

The Nazi Boni University is located in the city and was founded in 1995.{{Cite web|url=http://lefaso.net/spip.php?article65418|title=Université polytechnique de Bobo : 1 160 étudiants ont reçu leurs diplômes de fin d'études - leFaso.net}}

File:Moschee von Bobo-Dioulasso.jpg]]

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Muslim mosques.J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 455 There are also Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bobo-Dioulasso (Catholic Church), Association of Reformed Evangelical Church of Burkina Faso (World Communion of Reformed Churches), Assemblies of God, Deeper Life Bible Church, International Evangelism Center).

The Grand Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso, possibly the largest example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture in the country, built in 1880 according to some, 1893 according to others as a part of political agreement between the king of Sya and Islamic religious leader Almamy Sidiki Sanou.

File:Bobo Dioulasso Airport.jpg, 2009.]]

File:Sudanese Style Railway Station Bobo Dioulasso Burkina Faso.jpg railway station, built during the colonial era in the Sudano-Sahelian style, 2012.]]

The city has a railroad station along the Abidjan – Ouagadougou Railway. As of June 2014 Sitarail operated a passenger train along the line three times a week in each direction.European Rail Timetable, Summer 2014 Edition, (journey time is 43 to 48 hours) As of August 2015 Bobo Dioulasso Airport had direct flights twice a week to both Abidjan and Ouagadougou.{{cite web|title=Air Brukina, March–October 2014 Timetable (flights on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday)|url=https://air-burkina.com/en/flights-and-destinations/destinations}} The city is an important road junction connecting all of Southwestern Burkina Faso with the capital, Ouagadougou, via the N-1 roadway.

The original population of Bobo-Dioulasso consisted of a majority of farmers speaking the Bobo language. Associated with them were groups specializing in trade and warfare; they also speak Bobo, but identify as of distinct historical origin and ethnicity. They call themselves the Zara.Katja Werthmann, "Islam on Both Sides: Religion and Locality in Western Burkina Faso," in Dimensions of Locality, ed. by G. Stauth and S. Schielke, 2008, pp. 125-147.

Today Bobo-Dioulasso is ethnically and linguistically very diverse, due both to its position as an old trade town, and especially to its growth during the twentieth century as a colonial administrative and military center. Jula (also called Dioula) is the lingua franca of Bobo and surrounding region of western Burkina Faso. People of the city and region speak two distinctive dialects of Jula. The common (and now dominant) Jula spoken in the streets of Bobo-Dioulasso is a close variation of Bamana, the majority language of neighboring Mali.

It was brought to the area during the French colonial administration (1898–1960) by the government interpreters and by the soldiers of the colonial army, who were majority speakers of this language. Most people speak this Jula as a second language, after the official language of French. The people of Jula ethnicity, whether trader, Muslim-clerical, or warrior origin, speak a different dialect of Jula. It is similar to that spoken in Ivory Coast, from where their ancestors are believed to have come. In the city this dialect is called Kon-Jula; it is an ethnic marker of a particular community.Eren Giray, Nsiirin! Nsiirin! Jula Folktales from West Africa (Michigan University Press, 1996.

The population of the city keeps rapidly rising; it rose from 904,920 in 2019 to 1,129,000 in 2023.

Classified by the Köppen-Geiger system Bobo-Dioulasso has a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw). During its hottest months, its temperatures are slightly less hot than the more northern capital, Ouagadougou. The city has a dry season that spans from October through April while the wet season covers the remaining five months. The city experiences its highest temperatures during the dry season with average highs routinely exceeding {{convert|38|C|F}}. However, humidity is markedly lower during that season so the apparent temperature is more reflective of the actual temperature. The wet season in contrast features lower temperatures but much higher humidity. The apparent temperature during the wet season at times can exceed the apparent temperature during the dry season despite the lower temperatures. Bobo-Dioulasso on average sees roughly {{convert|1000|mm|in|-1|abbr=on}} of precipitation annually.

{{Weather box|width = auto

|location=Bobo-Dioulasso (1991-2020, extremes 1936-present)

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|Jan record high C = 39.7

|Feb record high C = 41.2

|Mar record high C = 46.0

|Apr record high C = 42.0

|May record high C = 41.0

|Jun record high C = 38.6

|Jul record high C = 36.5

|Aug record high C = 35.6

|Sep record high C = 35.6

|Oct record high C = 37.5

|Nov record high C = 38.0

|Dec record high C = 37.5

|year record high C = 46.0

|Jan high C = 33.1

|Feb high C = 35.9

|Mar high C = 37.8

|Apr high C = 37.4

|May high C = 35.4

|Jun high C = 32.7

|Jul high C = 30.6

|Aug high C = 29.8

|Sep high C = 31.0

|Oct high C = 33.5

|Nov high C = 34.9

|Dec high C = 33.5

|year high C = 33.8

|Jan mean C = 25.9

|Feb mean C = 28.8

|Mar mean C = 31.1

|Apr mean C = 30.8

|May mean C = 29.3

|Jun mean C = 27.3

|Jul mean C = 25.7

|Aug mean C = 25.0

|Sep mean C = 25.6

|Oct mean C = 27.2

|Nov mean C = 27.9

|Dec mean C = 26.3

|year mean C = 27.6

|Jan low C = 19.1

|Feb low C = 22.0

|Mar low C = 24.7

|Apr low C = 25.2

|May low C = 24.2

|Jun low C = 22.7

|Jul low C = 21.8

|Aug low C = 21.5

|Sep low C = 21.5

|Oct low C = 22.1

|Nov low C = 21.4

|Dec low C = 19.4

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = 11.0

|Feb record low C = 11.0

|Mar record low C = 11.5

|Apr record low C = 13.0

|May record low C = 15.2

|Jun record low C = 17.5

|Jul record low C = 17.0

|Aug record low C = 16.7

|Sep record low C = 15.5

|Oct record low C = 16.7

|Nov record low C = 12.8

|Dec record low C = 10.0

|year record low C = 10.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 0.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 1.7

|Mar precipitation mm = 17.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 53.7

|May precipitation mm = 98.3

|Jun precipitation mm = 132.6

|Jul precipitation mm = 207.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 269.0

|Sep precipitation mm = 195.5

|Oct precipitation mm = 71.6

|Nov precipitation mm = 5.8

|Dec precipitation mm = 0.7

|year precipitation mm = 1054.0

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 0.2

|Feb precipitation days = 0.1

|Mar precipitation days = 1.3

|Apr precipitation days = 4.0

|May precipitation days = 7.7

|Jun precipitation days = 9.1

|Jul precipitation days = 13.1

|Aug precipitation days = 15.5

|Sep precipitation days = 13.6

|Oct precipitation days = 6.9

|Nov precipitation days = 0.8

|Dec precipitation days = 0.1

|year precipitation days =

|Jan humidity = 25

|Feb humidity = 25

|Mar humidity = 32

|Apr humidity = 49

|May humidity = 63

|Jun humidity = 72

|Jul humidity = 78

|Aug humidity = 82

|Sep humidity = 79

|Oct humidity = 69

|Nov humidity = 51

|Dec humidity = 32

|year humidity =

|Jan sun = 277.4

|Feb sun = 250.0

|Mar sun = 248.1

|Apr sun = 227.4

|May sun = 247.6

|Jun sun = 225.8

|Jul sun = 206.9

|Aug sun = 178.3

|Sep sun = 208.0

|Oct sun = 266.4

|Nov sun = 284.8

|Dec sun = 279.2

|year sun =

|Jan percentsun = 80

|Feb percentsun = 76

|Mar percentsun = 67

|Apr percentsun = 63

|May percentsun = 68

|Jun percentsun = 62

|Jul percentsun = 51

|Aug percentsun = 48

|Sep percentsun = 58

|Oct percentsun = 70

|Nov percentsun = 79

|Dec percentsun = 75

|year percentsun = 66

|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web

|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/BurkinaFaso/CSV/BOBO-DIOULASSO_65510.csv

|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Fada N'gourma

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = January 4, 2024}}

|source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes, humidity 1951-1967, and percent sunshine 1961–1990)

{{cite web

| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_655100_kt.pdf

| title = Klimatafel von Bobo-Dioulasso / Burkina Faso (Obervolta)

| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world

| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst

| language = de

| access-date = February 25, 2016}}{{cite web

| url = ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_global/CLIMAT/multi_annual/sunshine_duration/1961_1990.txt

| title = Station 65510 Bobo-Dioulasso

| work = Global station data 1961–1990—Sunshine Duration

| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171017195327/ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_global/CLIMAT/multi_annual/sunshine_duration/1961_1990.txt

| archive-date = 2017-10-17

| url-status = dead

| access-date = February 25, 2016

}}{{efn|[https://web.archive.org/web/20171017195318/ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/help/stations_list_CLIMAT_data.txt Station ID for Bobo-Dioulasso is 65510] Use this station ID to locate the sunshine duration}}

}}

• Ibrahim Sory Sanlé (b. 1943), photographer{{Cite web|url=http://sorysanle.com/about.php|title=Sanlé Sory}}
• Gaston Kaboré (b. 1951), film director
• Moumouni Fabre (b. 1953), politician and diplomat
• Adama Dramé (b. 1954), musician
• Cheikh Lô (b. 1955), musician
• Dani Kouyaté (b. 1961), film director and griot
• Sékou Traoré (b. 1962), film director
• Alain Traoré (b. 1988), footballer (Arta/Solar7)
• Charles Kaboré (b. 1988), footballer
• Bertrand Traoré (b. 1995), footballer (Ajax)
• Lassina Traoré (b. 2001), footballer (Shakhtar Donetsk)
• Issa Kaboré (b. 2001), footballer (Manchester City)
• Nasser Djiga (b. 2002), footballer (Red Star Belgrade)
• Gustavo Sangaré (b. 1996), footballer (FC Noah)
• Zakaria Sanogo (b. 1996), footballer (FC Alashkert)
• Cheick Sanou (b. 1992), strongman

File:Stadiumbobodioulasso1.jpg|Stade Général Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana. Stadium, 1999

File:ASC Leiden - van Achterberg Collection - 5 - 020 - Détail d'un minaret d'argile de la Grande Mosquée - Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 19-26 août 2001.tif|Detail of a clay minaret of the Great Mosque in Bobo-Dioulasso, 2001

File:ASC Leiden - van Achterberg Collection - 5 - 010 - Un forgeron dans le quartier des forgerons travaille à l'intérieur - Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 19-26 août 2001.tiff|An iron smith in the blacksmith quarter is working indoors on a sickle with a hammer, 2001

File:ASC Leiden - van Achterberg Collection - 5 - 013 - Vue sur un ensemble de maisons basses - Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 19-26 août 2001.tif|Low square loam stone houses with trees on the bank of the river with sacred fish, Bobo-Dioulasso, 2001

File:Bobo-Dioulasso 4.29163W 11.18171N.jpg|World Wind satellite imagery of Bobo-Dioulasso, 2005 or earlier?

File:MS 1321 Bobo Monument.jpg|Monument. A huge statue of two people, Bobo-Dioulasso, 2006

File:Art-Deco Colonial-Era Chamber of Commerce Building - Bobo-Dioulasso - Burkina Faso.jpg|Chamber of Commerce Building, 2010

File:Market Scene - Bobo-Dioulasso - Burkina Faso.jpg|Market scene in Bobo-Dioulasso, 2010

• List of cities in Burkina Faso

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=McFarland |first1=Daniel Miles |last2=Rupley |first2=Lawrence |title=Historical Dictionary of Burkina Faso |date=1998 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |url=https://archive.org/details/historicaldictio0000mcfa_y0n6 |access-date=25 February 2025}}
• {{cite journal|last=Şaul|first=Mahir|title=The War Houses of the Watara in West Africa|journal=International Journal of African Historical Studies|year=1998|volume=31|issue=3|pages=537–570|doi=10.2307/221475|jstor=221475}}
• {{cite book |last1=Saul |first1=Mahir |last2=Royer |first2=Patrick |title=West African challenge to empire : culture and history in the Volta-Bani anticolonial war |date=2001 |publisher=Ohio University Press |location=Athens |page=69 |url=https://archive.org/details/westafricanchall0000saul/page/240/mode/2up |access-date=25 February 2025}}
• {{cite book |last1=Tauxier |first1=Louis |editor1-last=Bernus |editor1-first=Edmond |title=Les états de Kong |date=2003 |publisher=Karthala Editions |location=Paris}}

{{commons category|Bobo-Dioulasso}}

• {{wikivoyage-inline|Bobo-Dioulasso}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041214130949/http://www.mairie-bobo.bf/ Official website]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20190410203759/http://www.bobodioulasso.net/ Bobo-Dioulasso]}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Bamana

Category:Populated places in the Hauts-Bassins Region

Category:Wangara trade towns