# Fada N'gourma

Fada N'gourma, also written Fada-Ngourma or Noungu, is a city and an important market town in eastern Burkina Faso, lying 219 kilometres (136 mi) east of Ouagadougou, in the Gourmantché area. It is the capital of the Est Region and Gourma Province, and is also the seat of the king of the Gurma and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fada N'Gourma.
It is primarily known for its blanket and carpet manufacturing as well as honey production.

## Etymology

In Hausa, Fada N'gourma means "residence of the chief of Gourma", or "place where one pays the tax".

## History

The town was founded by Diaba Lompo as Bingo at the beginning of the 13th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was the capital of a Gourmantché state that frequently warred with the Songhai Empire. The French arrived at the town in January 1895 and the local Gurma ruler accepted French protection.

## Climate

Fada N'gourma has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw).
Climate data for Fada N'gourma (1991–2020, extremes 1919–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 41.0 (105.8) | 44.4 (111.9) | 44.1 (111.4) | 45.2 (113.4) | 44.4 (111.9) | 41.4 (106.5) | 39.4 (102.9) | 37.0 (98.6) | 38.8 (101.8) | 41.8 (107.2) | 42.0 (107.6) | 40.4 (104.7) | 45.2 (113.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.8 (92.8) | 36.9 (98.4) | 39.8 (103.6) | 40.1 (104.2) | 37.7 (99.9) | 34.6 (94.3) | 31.9 (89.4) | 30.6 (87.1) | 32.1 (89.8) | 35.4 (95.7) | 36.9 (98.4) | 34.7 (94.5) | 35.4 (95.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.5 (77.9) | 28.6 (83.5) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 31.5 (88.7) | 29.1 (84.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.0 (82.4) | 26.0 (78.8) | 28.5 (83.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 24.9 (76.8) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.4 (79.5) | 24.5 (76.1) | 23.3 (73.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 22.8 (73.0) | 23.0 (73.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 18.5 (65.3) | 22.8 (73.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10.7 (51.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 15.8 (60.4) | 17.5 (63.5) | 13.5 (56.3) | 15.0 (59.0) | 17.0 (62.6) | 18.5 (65.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 15.2 (59.4) | 11.8 (53.2) | 8.4 (47.1) | 8.4 (47.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.1 (0.08) | 6.9 (0.27) | 29.0 (1.14) | 81.8 (3.22) | 114.8 (4.52) | 177.5 (6.99) | 249.3 (9.81) | 142.9 (5.63) | 46.3 (1.82) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.0 (0.0) | 851.1 (33.51) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 11.2 | 14.1 | 10.0 | 4.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 58.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 26 | 25 | 27 | 43 | 58 | 69 | 78 | 84 | 83 | 71 | 46 | 31 | 53 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 268.8 | 245.3 | 249.0 | 238.6 | 254.7 | 238.2 | 217.0 | 192.1 | 214.5 | 260.6 | 271.1 | 274.4 | 2,924.3 |
| Source 1: World Meteorological Organization, Meteo Climat (record highs and lows) ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity, 1961–1967) ||||||||||||||

## Health

The city features both state and private health facilities. The city is the site of a Regional Hospital Center, the reference hospital for the East region.

## International relations
### Organizations

The following international organizations have offices in Fada N'gourma:
* Action Against Hunger
* Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation
* Initiative: Eau
* Îles de Paix

## Sister cities

Fada N'Gourma is twinned with:
* Épernay, France
* Great Barrington, Massachusetts, United States
* Tamale, Ghana

## Gallery

* Main street in Fada N'gourma
* Beehives in Fada N'gourma
* Market in Fada N'gourma