Bobo-Dioulasso

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Bobo Dioulasso Market


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pushpin_map_caption =Location within Burkina Faso, French West Africa
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subdivision_name1 = Hauts-Bassins Region
subdivision_type2 = Province
subdivision_name2 = Houet Province
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population_total =435543
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Bobo-Dioulasso is a city with a population of about 435,543 (as of 2006)National 2006 census preliminary results [http://www.insd.bf/Documents/Publications/INSD/Publications/Resultats_enquetes/Autres%20enq/Rapport_preliminaire_RGPH06.pdf] ] , the second biggest city in Burkina Faso, Africa, after Ouagadougou, the nation's capital. The name means literally, "home of the Jula-speaking Bobo," which is the dominant ethnic group in the region of the city. The city is situated in the southwest of the country, in the Houet Province, some 350 km (220 mi) from Ouagadougou. It is significant both economically (agricultural trade, textile industry) and culturally (Bobo is the center of culture and music of Burkina Faso).

Jula, a trade language, is the lingua franca of Bobo and surrounding region of western Burkina Faso. It is a derivative of Bamana, a dominant language of neighboring Mali. Bobo-Dioulasso is ethnically and linguistically very diverse, due to its position as an ancient crossroads of several trans-Saharan trade routes, so most Jula speakers in the region are not actually Jula themselves. Lying on the Houët River, "Bobo" was founded as "Sya" in the fifteenth century. The city was occupied by the French in 1897, after which it grew around the Abidjan–Ouagadougou railway.The city features the Bobo-Dioulasso Old Mosque (built in 1880), the fifteenth century Konsa house, and a sacred fish pond. There is also a museum, a zoo, and a pottery market.

Bobo was the economical capital of Burkina Faso since decades being nearer to Ivory Coast capital of Abdijan. Bobo developed as the centre of Industrilization and business but after the Internal crisis in Ivory Coast and Civil war Bobo lost its status of Industrial City of Burkina faso and that status was transferred to Ouagadougou becoming both political and economical capital of the country.

Notable people

*Moumouni Fabre (1953-) politician and diplomat
*Gaston Kaboré (1951-) filmwriter
*Dani Kouyaté (1961-) filmwriter

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.mairie-bobo.bf/ Official website]
* [http://www.bobodioulasso.net/ Bobo-Dioulasso]

References

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/UV/51/Bobo_Dioulasso.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 445m]