Gwiriko

The nature of the Gwiriko polity is debated by historians. Juula elders in the region do not retain a historical tradition of any kingdom of that name, yet since its inclusion in Dominique Traore's 1937 paper 'Notes sur le royaume mandingue de Bobo' it has appeared in numerous historians' accounts.{{sfn|Şaul|1998|p=568}} The early history of this kingdom is also recorded in the Ghunja Chronicle (Kitab al-Ghunja).{{cite book |last1=Ki-Zerbo |first1=Joseph |author1-link=Joseph Ki-Zerbo |last2=Izard|first2=Michel |editor1-last=Ogot |editor1-first=Bethwell A. |title=UNESCO General History of Africa. Vol. 5: A Africa from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century |date=1992 |publisher=Heinemann International |page=358-9 |chapter=From the Niger to the Volta}}

The word "Gwiriko" and its variant "Gbirinko" mean "at the end of the long stage", or alternatively "beyond the forest", in the Dyula language. The term, therefore, may have been a term for the remote lands far from the center of Ouattara power in Kong rather than denoting a specific territory.{{sfn|Şaul|1998|p=568}}

In the early 18th century, Sékou Ouattara took control of the city of Kong and expanded his influence, creating the Kong Empire. In about 1714, Seku's brother Famagan Ouattara established the Kingdom of Gwiriko in the bend of the Mouhoun River, acting as a representative of Seku but with a high degree of independence.Quimby, Lucy Gardner. "Transformations of belief: Islam among the Dyula of Kongbougou from 1880 to 1970." (1972). p31-33{{sfn|Şaul|1998|p=543}} At Seku's death around 1740, Famagah refused to pay allegiance to Sekou Ouattara's sons and seized the area which included Tiefo, Dafin, and Bwamu. He allied with the Bobo-Juula, and established a state. His successors faced repeated revolts which were put down by violent repression.

After the succeeding leader, Diori Ouattara, died in 1839, the state collapsed, and the Tiefo, Bobo Joola, Bolon, and other peoples became independent. Bako Moru stemmed the collapse by allying with the Tiéfo and Bobo Joola. In a battle at {{ill|Bléni|fr}} in the 1860s, the army of faama Daula Traoré of Kenedougou was defeated and his son Tieba was captured and later sold as a slave.{{cite book |last1=Ki-Zerbo |first1=Joseph |last2=Arhin |first2=Kwame |author1-link=Joseph Ki-Zerbo |editor1-last=Ajayi |editor1-first=JF Ade |title=UNESCO General History of Africa. Vol. 6: Africa in the Nineteenth Century until the 1880s |date=1995 |publisher=Heinemann International |page=677 |chapter=States and peoples of the Niger Bend and the Volta}}{{sfn|Bangali|Diamitani|Rupley|2013|p=28}}

Guimbe Ouattara (c 1836–1919), daughter of Diori Ouattara, was a noted leader in campaigns against the Kénédougou Kingdom and Noumoudara in this era.{{sfn|Bangali|Diamitani|Rupley|2013|p=155}}

During the reign of Ali Dyan (1854–1878) and his successor Kokoro Dyan, the central state lost control of the state and groups such as the Tyefo took control of the land.{{cite book |last1=Person |first1=Yves |last2=Brett |first2=Yvonne |author1-link=Yves Person |editor1-last=Oliver |editor1-first=Roland |editor2-last=Sanderson |editor2-first=G. N. |title=The Cambridge History of Africa. Vol. 6. |date=1985 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=242-3 |chapter=Western Africa, 1886-1905}} By the late 1800s, Gwiriko was pressed on many sides and in 1897, Pintieba Ouattara was installed to replace Tieba Ouattara by the French when Pintieba made a deal with French commandant Paul Caudrelier. Thereafter, the influence of the state quickly waned and while Pintieba and his successor Karamoko Ouattara held the title of King until 1915, by that time the state no longer existed.{{sfn|Bangali|Diamitani|Rupley|2013|p=155}}

• Mossi states
• Kong Empire

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Bangali |first1=Lamissa |last2=Diamitani |first2=Boureima |last3=Rupley |first3=Lawrence |title=Historical Dictionary of Burkina Faso |date=2013 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-8010-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PzXEKPYNXm8C&q=gouiriko |access-date=18 February 2025}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Şaul |first1=Mahir |title=The War Houses of the Watara in West Africa |journal=The International Journal of African Historical Studies |date=1998 |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=537–570 |doi=10.2307/221475 |jstor=221475 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/221475 |access-date=16 February 2025}}

Category:Former monarchies of Africa

Category:Countries in precolonial Africa

Category:States and territories established in 1710

Category:1897 disestablishments

Category:History of Burkina Faso

Category:1714 establishments in Africa