Boundiali

Boundiali is a town and department in north central Côte d'Ivoire, in the southwest of Savanes Region.

Its population, the "boundialikas", is made mainly of ethnic groups shared across the borders of Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso as well as some Fulas, totalling around 50,000 people in the town. It is a centre for Senoufo people and is known for crafts. The inhabitants are chiefly farmers and stockbreeders as well as tradesmen or civil servants.

Economy

The economy of the town of Boundiali is largely based on the cotton industry, introduced by the French during the colonial period, and primarily intended for export. Corn, Groundnut, Millet, "Manioc", Banana, Mangoes, Yam, and Rice are also cultivated, maily for local consumption.

The city has a hospital, a modern college and two factories for cotton processing, its principal industry, to the point of being called white gold.

Politics

Its mayor is Zémogo Fofana, former member of the RDR, and a former minister. He has created his own party with Jean-Jacques Bechio, another former minister and Director of the RDR.

Department of Boundiali

Boundiali is also the name one of the fifty-eight departments of Côte d'Ivoire, located in the northern region of the country, and also the name of the town at the center of that department.

Geography

The town is surrounded by two volcanic "mountains" ["Mountains" ("montagnes") is the term used by the local population.] that are the geologic result of the Guinean mountain range that culminates at Mount Nimba. [The Boundiali region has been the subject of a thesis of the Blaise Pascal University of Clermont-Ferrand: "Le Volcanisme du sillon de Boundiali, phénomène principal du Protérozoïque inférieur de cette région N.NW de la Côte d'Ivoire".]

The area is part of the Savanna Region, with tropical to subtropical vegetation. The climate is very hot and dry (Sudanese climate). In December and January, Harmattan, a powerful wind blows in from the Sahara, lowering the temperature considerably.

Culture

The neighbouring villages, are home to artisans who manufacture statues of human or animal figures as well as wood-carved doors and sénoufo chairs.

The ceremonies of the area are celebrated with the popular use of Djembe, Kora and Balaphon.

Onchocerciasis devastated the riverside villages of the area, but was effectively eradicated in 1980, thanks chiefly to Canadian co-operation. [ [http://www.37millionandcounting.com River Blindness Documentary "37 Million and Counting" by Aaron Edell] ,]

Places of Interest

*Hippopotamus in the River Bagoué.
*The neighbouring forests are home to panthers which are sometimes killed by villagers, although hunting is prohibited in the territory.
*Niofoin, the typical sénoufo village, is located towards Korhogo. It is here that Jean-Jacques Annaud made his first film, La Victoire, 1975. (with Jean Carmet)
*North of the city, towards Tingréla, the villages of Kouto, Gbon and Kolia are located, which are populated by weavers and blacksmiths.
*The village of Tiémé, in direction of Odienné, sheltered René Caillé at the time of his voyage from Conakry to Timbuktoo, where he was cured of scurvy by the attentive care of the villagers.
*Fula camps in the Savvanna outside the city.

Celebrities linked to the city

*Muriel Diallo, author of children's stories.
*The writer Ahmadou Kourouma (author of Les Soleils des indépendances, En attendant le vote des bêtes sauvages, Allah n'est pas obligé), was born in Boundiali.

Neighbouring Cities

*Korhogo to the east.
*Odienné to the west.
*Tingréla to the north.
*Séguéla to the south.

Notes

References

*"Les charrues de la Bagoue - Gestion paysanne d'une opération cotonnière en Côte d'ivoire", by Jacqueline Peltre-Wurtz, published in 1999 (Editor: IRD)
*"Histoire des Fohobele de Cote d'ivoire - Une Population Sénoufo inconnue", by Tiona Ferdinand Ouattara, published in 1999 in Editions Karthala.
*"Le volcanisme du sillon de Boundiali, phénomène principal du proterozoique inférieur de cette région N.NW de la Cote d'Ivoire", thesis by the Université Blaise Pascal de Clermont-Ferrand.
*"Étude Pédologique De La Région De Boundiali-Korhogo - Méthodologie et typologie détaillée, morphologie et caractères analytiques", by Alain-Gérard Beaudou, published by Editions de l'ORSTOM.
*"Les Sénoufos (Y compris les Miniankas)", by B. Holas, published in 1957 by Presses Universitaires de France.

External links

* [http://boundiali.site.voila.fr Boundiali unofficial website]
* [http://lepatriote.net/lpX3.asp?action=lire&rname=Accueil&id=34423 A school in BOUNDIALI]

Image Gallery