Ouagadougou was founded possibly as early as 1050 by theSoninke Wangara diaspora from theGhana Empire, also known as Wagadu. The nameWagadugu means 'home of the Wagu', the Soninke subgroup that ruled Ghana.[20][21]Ouagadougou is aFrancophone spelling of this name.
TheMossi people, moving north in the 14th century, conquered Wagadugu around the same time they raidedWalata, contributing to the decline of theMali Empire.[22] According to legend, the city was taken by Oubri, a grandson ofOuedraogo.[23]
The eponymous Wagadugu Kingdom was founded in the 15th century,[24] which became the main center of theMossi States around 1495.[25] The 10th Moro Naba, Nyadfo, was the firstMoro-Naba to live at Ouagadougou, in the middle of the 17th century. It became the permanent capital under the 21st Moro Naba, Zombre, a century later.[26] TheMoro-Naba Ceremony is still performed every Friday by the Moro-Naba and his court. The 24th Moro Naba, Doulougou, built the first mosque in Ouagadougou early in the nineteenth century.[26]
On 5 September 1896 French forces entered Ouagadougou and burned the city to the ground.[27] In 1919 the colonial administration made Ouagadougou the capital of theUpper Volta territory, extensively rebuilding the town. In 1954 the railroad line fromIvory Coast reached the city, spurring massive population growth.[26]
On 15 January 2016, gunmen armed with heavy weaponsattacked central Ouagadougou at the Cappuccino restaurant and the Splendid Hotel. 28 people were killed,[28][29] and at least 56 wounded; after a government counterattack, a total of 176hostages were released[30] the morning after the initial attack. Three of the perpetrators were also killed. Thejihadist insurgency continued with major attacksin 2017 and2018.
Ouagadougou's climate ishot semi-arid (BSh) underKöppen-Geiger classification, and closely borders withtropical wet and dry (Aw). The city is part of the Sudano-Sahelian area, with annual rainfall of about 800 mm (31 in). Therainy season stretches from May to September, with an average temperature of 28 °C (82.4 °F). The cool season runs from October to February, with a minimum average temperature of 16 °C (60.8 °F). The maximum temperature during the hot season, which runs from March to April, can reach 43 °C (109.4 °F). Theharmattan (a dry wind) and theWest African Monsoon are the two main factors that determine Ouagadougou's climate. Being further north, Ouagadougou's warmest months are slightly hotter and drier than those ofBobo-Dioulasso, the country'ssecond most populous city.
Climate data for Ouagadougou (1991–2020, extremes 1902–present)
Ouagadougou's first municipal elections were held in 1956.[3]
The city is divided into fivearrondissements, consisting of 30 sectors, which are subdivided into districts.[citation needed] Districts of Ouagadougou include Gounghin, Kamsaoghin, Koulouba, Moemmin, Niogsin, Paspanga, Peuloghin, Bilbalogho, and Tiendpalogo.
Ouagadougou's communes have invested in huge city-management projects. This is largely because Ouagadougou constitutes a 'cultural centre' by merit of holding theSIAO (International Arts and Crafts fair) and theFESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou). Moreover, the villages' growing affluence allows for such investment, and the population's rapid growth necessitates it.[34]
Though literacy in Ouagadougou is not high, there are three universities in the city. The largest is the stateUniversity of Ouagadougou, which was founded in 1974. In 2010 it had around 40,000 students (83% of the national population of university students).[36]
The city's official language is French and the principal local languages areMore,Dyula andFulfulde. The bilingual program in schools (French plus one of the local languages) was established in 1994.[34]
Ouagadougou's inhabitants play a wide array of sports, including association football, basketball, and volleyball. There are tournaments and activities organized by the local authorities. TheStade du 4-Août is the home ofÉtoile Filante de Ouagadougou, the city's mainfootball team.
Ouagadougou has both state and private hospitals. The two state hospitals in the city are the Centre hospitalier national Yalgado Ouedraogo (CHNYO) and the Centre hospitalier national pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle (CHNP-CDG). Despite that, the local population still largely can only afford traditional local medicine and the "pharmacopée".[34]
Ouagadougou is connected by passenger rail service toBobo-Dioulasso,Koudougou andIvory Coast. As of June 2014,Sitarail operates a passenger train three times a week along the route from Ouagadougou to Abidjan.[39] There are freight services to Kaya in north Burkina Faso and in 2014 plans were announced to revive freight services to the manganese mine atTambao starting in 2016.[40]
The economy of Ouagadougou is based on industry and commerce. Some industrial facilities have relocated fromBobo-Dioulasso to Ouagadougou, which has made the city an important industrial centre of Burkina Faso. The industrial areas ofKossodo andGounghin are home to several processing plants and factories. The industry of Ouagadougou is the sector that fuels urban growth, as people move to the city from the countryside to find employment in industry.[41] The Copromof workshop in Ouagadougou sews cottonlingerie for the French label "Atelier Augusti."[42]
Ouagadougou is an important commercial centre. It is a centre where goods are collected and directed to rural areas. With a large consumer base, large amounts of energy sources, raw materials for buildings, agricultural products and livestock products are imported to the city.[41]
The economy is dominated by theinformal sector, which is characterized by petty commodity production, and workers not necessarily having salaries. Traditional, informal trade is widespread and concentrated around markets and major roads, as well as in outlets in neighborhoods. While the formal economy consists of modern economic practices with workplaces having qualified, stable labor forces, or more traditional forms of business such as family businesses.[41]
Informal trade
The tertiary sector is also an important part of the economy. This comprises communications, banking, transport, bars, restaurants, hotels, as well as administrative jobs.[41]
The Bangr-Weoogo urban park (area: 2.63 km2 (1 sq mi)), before colonialism, belonged to the Mosse chiefs. Considering it a sacred forest, many went there for traditional initiations or for refuge. The French colonists, disregarding its local significance and history, established it as a park in the 1930s. In 1985, renovations were done in the park. In January 2001, the park was renamed "Parc Urbain Bangr-Weoogo", meaning "the urban park of the forest of knowledge".
Another notable park in Ouagadougou is the "L'Unité Pédagogique", which shelters animals in a semi-free state. This botanic garden/biosphere system stretches over 8 ha (20 acres) and also serves as a museum for the country's history.
"Jardin de l'amitié Ouaga-Loudun" (Garden of Ouaga-Loudun Friendship), with a green space that was renovated in 1996, is a symbol of the twin-city relationship between Ouagadougou and Loudun in France. It is situated in the centre of the city, near the "Nation Unies' crossroads".
There are a number of cultural and art venues, such as the Maison du Peuple and Salle des Banquets, in addition to performances of many genres of music, including traditional folk music, modern music, andrap.[34]
Musée de Manega: also exhibits musical instruments of Burkina Faso, Mossi rifles and other cultural items. Located 55 km (34 mi) northwest of the city.
"Naba Koom": a statue depicting a woman handling acalabash to pour water. The 6-metre-high (20 ft) statue faces the railway station, welcoming travellers into Ouaga. The place bears the name of an important chief in Burkina Faso's history.
"Laongo": 30 km (19 mi) east of the city, features enormous granite slabs that were designed by various sculptors. The exhibit displays works of art from five continents.[34]
"La Place du Grand Lyon": a monument that reflects the relationship between Burkina Faso's capital and Lyon in France. It is located near the French cultural centre George Melies and features an imposing lion. A zoo called "Parc Animalier de Ziniaré": located 30 km (19 mi) east of the city in the hometown of the former president Blaise Compaoré.
Several international festivals and activities are organized within the municipality, such asFESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou), which is Africa's largest festival of this type,SIAO (International Art and Craft Fair), FESPAM (Pan-African Music Festival), FITMO (International Theatre and Marionnette Festival) and FESTIVO.[34][50]
David P. Johnson, Jr. (2010). "Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso". In Kwame Anthony Appiah; Henry Louis Gates (eds.).Encyclopedia of Africa. Oxford University Press.ISBN9780195337709.
Page, Willie; Davis, R. Hunt, eds. (2005).Encyclopedia of African History and Culture Volume II: African Kingdoms (500 to 1500) (E-book ed.). New York: Facts on File.ISBN978-1-4381-2917-4.
