Ouagadougou, capital city of Burkina Faso All... Ouagadougou, capital city of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou, or as the locals simply call it, Ouaga, is a truly African capital. Although it is the political center of one of the world's poorest countries, the city is filled with good restaurants, hotels and nightspots, and the locals are known for their friendly dispositions and upbeat attitudes. Although Burkina Faso is a presidential republic, the emperor of the Mossi people is still one of the most important figures in the country. Moro-Naba, as he is called, is still consulted by the government before any big decisions are made, and an important ritual takes place at his palace every Friday. The formal ceremony lasts less than a half hour, but prominent people from around the country come and sit in rank before a cannon is shot. The Moro-Naba arrives decked out in red costume, symbolic for war, and riding an elaborately decorated horse. The most senior visitors pay their respects to the traditional chief, then His Majesty disappears only to come back again in white clothing, symbolizing peace.

The subjects are invited into the palace for milk, Kola nut drinks and millet beer while the chief rules on petty crimes and local disputes. Visitors are welcome to view the fascinating ceremony by entering the compound from the east, but photography is forbidden. The National Museum is located about 10 kilometers outside the city center and is still a work-in-progress. The small but growing collection highlights traditional costumes of the country's major ethnic groups, ancestral statues and various masks. Dusty pavilions host the galleries, and although the labels are solely in French, the museum is still well worth a visit. Visitors interested in traditional music will be delighted by the Museum of Music. The imaginatively designed gallery space is filled with flutes, tambour drums, harps, xylophones and other music-makers from around Burkina Faso. The foot castanets are particularly interesting, and French-speaking guides offer insight into each of the pieces. More musical instruments are on display at the Manega Museum. The collection also includes Mossi rifles and other artifacts from around the country. On the outskirts of the city lies the grave of Thomas Sankara.

President of the country from 1983 to 1987, Sankara is regarded as an icon of the revolution as is commonly called the Che Guevara of Africa. The Marxist revolutionary is also beloved for his ambitious social and economic programs. His grave remains a reminder of the most hopeful time in the country's history, and it continues to hold great political significance for locals. Ouagadougou is a fairly green city, and the Bangre Weoogo park is a favorite of locals, especially those with children. The park's small zoo is home to many crocodiles and other indigenous animals, and the area is regarded as sacred to locals. The Garden of Ouaga-Loudun Friendship is also worth exploring. The green space was redone in 1996 and symbolizes the relationship between the capital and its sister city in France. The friendship between France and Burkina Faso is also evident at the Place du Grand Lyon. Located near the Center George Mélies, the monument is one of the most beautiful in the city. Another notable monument in Ouagadougou stands just across from the railway station. The six-meter stone statue depicts a woman pouring water out of a calabash.

It is usually the first sight visitors see when they arrive in Ouagadougou. Ouagadougou Geographical Location Ouagadougou is located in the center of Burkina Faso and is it’s largest city. The population of Ouagadougou is approximately 1,730,000 in the metropolitan area. Ouagadougou Language French is the official language of Burkina Faso but the majority of the population speaks native African languages. Ouagadougou Predominant Religion Google Map of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso - Nations Online Project About Ouagadougou Satellite view is showing Ouagadougou, largest city and the national capital of Burkina Faso , a landlocked country between Mali in north, and Ghana and Togo in south. Burkina Faso’s primate city is located in the center of the country, it is the administrative, cultural and economic center of the nation.

According to oral history, the city was founded somewhere down the line between the 12th and 13th century and served as one of the administrative centers of the Mossi Kingdoms, which dominated the region of the upper Volta river for centuries. Road to Ouagadougou. Photo: Ferdinand Reus The urban settlement of today Ouagadougou located on the central plateau, was structured around the imperial 'palace' of the Mogho Naba, the emperor, revered as the "Rising Sun" by the Mossi people. It was the center of power of the Mossi Kingdom of Wogodogo (transl.: "where people receive honor and respect") from the mid 15th century until the late 19th century until the coming of the French with their expansion and colonization ideology, their superior supply infrastrucure and their weapon power. Today Ouagadougou, often shorted to Ouaga, has a population of about 1.5 million people. Spoken languages are French (official) and indigenous languages of the Sudanic family.

The map shows a city map of Ouagadougou with expressways, main roads and streets, and the location of Ouagadougou International Airport ( IATA code : OUA). To find a location use the form below. To view just the map, click on the "Map" button. To find a location type: street or place, city, optional: state, country. Local Time Burkina Faso: No time offset UTC / GMT 0 hours φ Latitude, λ Longitude (of Map center; move the map to see coordinates): , Google Earth: Searchable map/satellite view of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

City Coordinates: 12°21′26″N 1°32′7″W Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso 487 Ouagadougou (/ˌwɑːɡəˈduːɡuː/; Mossi: [ˈwaɡᵊdᵊɡᵊ]) is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic centre of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 (as of 2006).The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais. The spelling of the name Ouagadougou is derived from the French orthography common in former French African colonies. Tell your friends Tweet Ouagadougou's primary industries are food processing and textiles.

It is served by an international airport, rail links to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast. There is no rail service to Kaya. There is a paved highway to Niamey, Niger, south to Ghana, and Southwest to Ivory Coast. Ouagadougou was the site of Ouagadougou grand market, one of the largest markets in West Africa, which burned in 2003 and has since been reopened. Other attractions include the National Museum of Burkina Faso, the Moro-Naba Palace (site of the Moro-Naba Ceremony), the National Museum of Music, and several craft markets. History The name Ouagadougou dates back to the 15th century when the Ninsi tribes inhabited the area. They were in constant conflict until 1441 when Wubri, a Yonyonse hero and an important figure in Burkina Faso's history, led his tribe to victory. He then renamed the area from "Kumbee-Tenga", as the Ninsi had called it, to "Wage sabre soba koumbem tenga", meaning "head war chief's village". Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the name.

The city became the capital of the Mossi Empire in 1441 and was the permanent residence of the Mossi emperors (Moro-Naba) from 1681.[3] The Moro-Naba Ceremony is still performed every Friday by the Moro-Naba and his court. The French made Ouagadougou the capital of the Upper Volta territory (basically the same area as contemporary independent Burkina Faso) in 1919. In 1954 the railroad line from Ivory Coast reached the city. The population of Ouagadougou doubled from 1954 to 1960 and has been doubling since about every ten years. Government The first municipal elections were held in 1956. Ouagadougou is governed by a mayor, who is elected for a five-year term, two senior councillors, and 90 councillors. The city is divided into five arrondissements, consisting of 30 sectors, which are subdivided into districts.

Districts of Ouagadougou include Gounghin, Kamsaoghin, Koulouba, Moemmin, Niogsin, Paspanga, Peuloghin, Bilbalogho, and Tiendpalogo. Seventeen villages comprise the Ouagadougou metropolitan area, which is about 219.3 square kilometres (84.7 sq mi). The city is clean, pleasant, well-organized and relatively safe. There are good restaurants and hotels, clean water, and dependable electricity. Streets are paved, there are stoplights, which most drivers respect. Traffic is congested in some neighborhoods in the mornings and late afternoons. The population of this area is estimated to be 1,475,000 inhabitants, 48% of which are men and 52% women. The rural population is about 5% and the urban population about 95% of the total, and the density is 6,727 inhabitants per square kilometer, according to 2006 census. Concerning city management, the communes of Ouagadougou have made the decision to invest in huge projects.

This is largely because Ouagadougou constitutes a 'cultural centre' by merit of holding the SIAO (International Arts and Crafts fair) and the FESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou). Moreover, the growing affluence of the villages allow for such investment, and the population's rapid growth necessitates it. Climate The climate of Ouagadougou is hot semi-arid (BSh) under Köppen-Geiger classification, that closely borders with tropical wet and dry (Aw). The city is part of the Sudano-Sahelian area, with a rainfall of about 800 mm (31 in) per year. The rainy season stretches from May to October, its height from June to September, with a mean average temperature of 28 пїЅC (82 пїЅF). The cold season runs from December to January, with a minimum average temperature of 16 пїЅC (61 пїЅF). The maximum temperature during the hot season, which runs from March to May, can reach 43 пїЅC (109 пїЅF).

The harmattan (a dry wind) and the monsoon are the two main factors that determine Ouagadougou's climate. Even though Ouagadougou is farther from the equator, its hottest months' temperatures are slightly hotter than those of Bobo-Dioulasso, the second most populous city. Education Though literacy in Ouagadougou is not high, there are three universities in the city. The largest college is the state University of Ouagadougou which was founded in 1974 and the UUPN, University of United Popular Nations based on international learning system. In 2010 it had around 40,000 students in 2010 (83% of the national population of university students). The official language in the city is French and the principal local languages are More, Dyula and Fulfulde. The bilingual program in schools (French plus one of the local languages) was established in 1994.[4] But this so-called bilingual program has never been effective. The local authorities have failed to implement it.

Sport, culture, and leisure A wide array of sports, including association football, basketball, and volleyball, is played by Ouagadougou inhabitants. There are sports tournaments and activities organized by the local authorities. 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, and rap. Art and crafts Several international festivals and activities are organized within the municipality, such as FESPACO (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. Health 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), but there are also private hospitals. Despite that, the local population still largely can only afford traditional local medicine and the "pharmacopée".

Transport Many residents travel on motorcycles and mopeds. The large private vendor of motorcycles JC Megamonde sells 50,000 motorbikes and mopeds every year. Ouagadougou's citizens also travel in green cabs, which take their passengers anywhere in town for 200 to 400 CFA, but the price is higher after 10:00 pm and can then reach 1000 CFA.[citation needed] Air transport Ouagadougou Airport (code OUA) serves the area with flights to West Africa and Europe. Air Burkina has its head office in the Air Burkina Storey Building (French: Immeuble Air Burkina) in Ouagadougou. Rail Ouagadougou is connected by passenger rail service to Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou and Ivory Coast. As of June 2014 Sitarail operates a passenger train three times a week along the route from Ouagadougou to Abidjan.

There are freight services to Kaya in the north of Burkina Faso and in 2014 plans were announced to revive freight services to the Manganese mine at Tambao starting in 2016. ... Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date with the latest news and deals! Subscribe Where is Burkina Faso? / Where is Burkina Faso Located in The World? / Burkina Faso Map - WorldAtlas.com What is the capital of Burkina Faso? Located in the continent of Africa , Burkina Faso covers 273,800 square kilometers of land and 400 square kilometers of water, making it the 75th largest nation in the world with a total area of 274,200 square kilometers. Burkina Faso became an independent state in 1960, after gaining its sovereignty from France. The population of Burkina Faso is 17,275,115 (2012) and the nation has a density of 63 people per square kilometer. The currency of Burkina Faso is the CFA Franc BCEAO (XOF).

As well, the people of Burkina Faso are refered to as Burkinabe. The dialing code for the country is 226 and the top level internet domain for Burkinabe sites is .bf. Burkina Faso shares land borders with 6 countries: Mali , Niger , Cote d'Ivoire , Ghana , Benin , Togo . To learn more, visit our detailed Burkina Faso section. Quick facts Ouagadougou | national capital, Burkina Faso | Britannica.com national capital, Burkina Faso Los Angeles Ouagadougou, also spelled Wagadugu , capital and largest town of Burkina Faso , western Africa . It was the capital of the historic Mossi kingdom of Wagadugu (founded in the 15th century) and the seat of the morho naba (“great king”) of the Mossi people. Islam became the religion of the kings under Naba Dulugu (ruled 1796?–1825?). The morho naba still lives in the city, though his powers were greatly eclipsed by the French colonial and post-independent administrations.

French embassy building, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Walter Weiss/Ostman Agency Ouagadougou is a city of large trees and modern public buildings abutting traditional residential neighbourhoods. It has a market, a crafts centre, the national museum, and the University of Ouagadougou (1969). It is connected by rail to the Atlantic Ocean port of Abidjan , Côte d’Ivoire , and has an international airport. Major products include textiles, carbonated beverages, matches, and footwear. Pop. (2006) 1,475,223. Learn More in these related articles: in Burkina Faso Settlement patterns Ouagadougou, the administrative capital and the seat of government, is a modern city where several companies have their headquarters. It is also the residence of the morho naba (“great lord”) of the Mossi and an important regional centre for international aid programs. 1 Reference found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference Ouagadougou - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou (also spelled Wagadugu) is the country’s largest city.

It has a large market, a major crafts center, and Burkino Faso’s national museum. Its major industries include textiles, carbonated beverages, matches, and footwear. It is the seat of the University of Ouagadougou, which was established in 1969. The city has good connections by rail to the Atlantic port of Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire, and it possesses an international airport. It is known for its large trees and modern public buildings that border traditional residential neighborhoods. Article History Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources.

At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: July 10, 2009 URL: Access Date: January 19, 2017 Share Burkina Faso travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Burkina Faso is one of the friendliest and, until recently, one of the safest, countries in all of Africa. Although it receives only a small number of tourists per year, it is an excellent destination for anyone interested in seeing a beautiful West African country and exploring African culture and music.

History[ edit ] Until the end of the 19th century, the history of Burkina Faso was dominated by the empire-building Mossi. The French arrived and claimed the area in 1896, but Mossi resistance ended only with the capture of their capital Ouagadougou in 1901. The colony of Upper Volta was established in 1919, but it was dismembered and reconstituted several times until the present borders were recognized in 1947. Independence from France came to Upper Volta, which was renamed Burkina Faso under the leadership of Thomas Sankara, otherwise known as the "Che Guevara" of Africa, in 1984. Under Sankara's presidency, he initiated one of the most ambitious programmes for social and economic change ever attempted in Africa. In order to achieve his goals, he exerted authoritarian control over the nation, which although was successful in bringing significant economic and social changes to the country, did not protect the country from political troubles and relationships with the West and neighboring countries had significantly deteriorated.

In 1987, almost three years into Sankara's presidency, a coup was led by Blaise Compaoré (Sankara's colleague) and executed Sankara along with twelve of his officers. Following the coup Compaoré immediately reversed the nationalizations, overturned nearly all of Sankara's policies, and assumed the presidency. During Compaoré's presidency, things did not improve during his years of office, and the Burkinabe opposition frequently boycotted the elections by alleging that they were rigged. In October 2014, Compaoré fled to Ivory Coast after he had attempted to extend his 27 year presidency, and continues to remain there in exile. Constant political unrest and troubles, ineffective governance, along with a poor educational system, poor soils and a lack of infrastructure has left Burkina Faso as one of the world's poorest countries. Despite this, the situation appears to be improving under a new government and how far will the new government better the country is open to interpretation. People[ edit ] Burkina Faso's seventeen million people belong to two major West African cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mande (whose common language is Dioula).

The Voltaic Mossi make up about one-half of the population. The Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated to present-day Burkina Faso from Ghana and established an empire that lasted more than 800 years. Predominantly farmers, the Mossi kingdom is still led by the Mogho Naba, whose court is in Ouagadougou. While over 60 ethnic groups (and just as many languages) can be found in Burkina, the country may also be divided into these primary ethnic regions: Touareg: Extreme north Peul/Fulani: Far north, just south of the Tourags Gourmantché: East Mossi: Central plateau centred around Ouagadougou and stretching north to Ouahigouya and south to the Ghanaian border Gourounsi: Southern Burkina Faso between Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso Lobi: South-west along the borders with Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire Bobo/Dioula: West centered around Bobo-Dioulasso Senoufo: Southwest along the borders with Mali and Côte d'Ivoire Burkina Faso is an ethnically integrated, secular state.

Most of Burkina's people are concentrated in the south and centre of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometre (125 mi²). Several hundred thousand farm workers migrate south every year to Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana . These flows of workers are obviously affected by external events; the civil war in Cote d'Ivoire have meant that hundreds of thousands of Burkinabé returned to Burkina Faso. A plurality of Burkinabé are Muslim, but most also adhere to traditional African religions. The introduction of Islam to Burkina Faso was initially resisted by the Mossi rulers. Christians, both Roman Catholics and Protestants, comprise about 25% of the population, with their largest concentration in urban areas. Few Burkinabé have had formal education. Schooling is in theory free and compulsory until the age of 16, but only about 54% of Burkina's primary school-age children are enrolled in primary school due to actual costs of school supplies and school fees and to opportunity costs of sending a child who could earn money for the family to school.

The University of Ouagadougou, founded in 1974, was the country's first institution of higher education. The Polytechnical University in Bobo-Dioulasso was opened in 1995. The University of Koudougou was founded in 2005 to substitute for the former teachers' training school, Ecole Normale Superieure de Koudougou. Economy[ edit ] One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. About 90% of the population is engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of macroeconomic progress depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment. Burkina's economy has suffered badly because of political troubles, and because it is so poor, about two thirds of the population are forced to go abroad to find jobs.

Burkina imports most of the goods and the resources it consumes. Visa[ edit ] Passport and a visa are required to enter the country. It may be best to obtain your visa in advance, and make sure that it is allowed for the period you're travelling as, for several reasons including epidemics, tourism is not allowed in the country in some periods. If coming by plane to Ouagadougou, the prices of the visa on entry have increased hugely since October 2013, with single-entry visas costing 94,000 CFA, and multi-entry visas costing 122,000 CFA. Complaints that your embassy website has lower prices will do no good as the notice with the new pricing scheme is signed by the police, and the visa itself even has the price listed on it. It may be cheaper to get the visa in your home country beforehand. Payment is accepted in euros at a reasonable exchange rate, with the single entry visa costing 150€. If coming by land EU and US citizens are able to get a seven day single entry visa for XOF10,000 at the border.

As of 1 Jul 2010, at the border to Ghana at Paga, they increased the price to XOF94,000, payable in cash (and the exchange rate offered at the border was 10-20% lower than market rates). No passport photos were required. They only were able to issue a 90 day visa. 2 passport photos and a yellow fever certificate are required (border crossing at Paga, in July 2010, did not ask for yellow fever certificate). Border police said that COF10,000 visas were still available, but back in Accra. Border police also said that the 90 day visa was convertible at no cost to a 5 year visa for a USA passport in Ouagadougou. Visas may be extended to 3 months multiple entry at the Bureau de Sureté de l'Etat which can be found in most major cities. To get the extension you should arrive before 09:00 (again with 2 passport photographs) and collect your passport again that afternoon.

As of March 2014, the Embassy in Bamako, Mali, issued 90-day multi-entry for 31000CFA (1/3 the border price.) Two photos were required, but they can take them for you at the embassy, 4 for 2500CFA. Pick up the next day. The BF embassy in Washington offers six-month, multiple-entry visas for US$100. US citizens only are eligible for a five-year, multiple-entry visa for US$100. US flights: Brussels Airlines (part of ' Star Alliance ') and Royal Air Maroc offer US flights departing from New York , San Francisco , and Los Angeles and Washington D.C. . Air Burkina is the national carrier and offers a number of flights within West Africa and to Paris. Air Burkina is part of Celestair which also owns stakes in Compagnie Aerienne du Mali and newly created Uganda Airways. Planes are for the most part new and well maintained. Flight times are unreliable but, once in the air, service is good.

Like many African airlines, although flights may indicate only one destination, ie direct flight from Ouagadougou, there are often multiple stops along the way to pick-up and drop-off passengers. Most flights to Burkina with foreign carriers will also stop at Niger's capital, Niamey, just 1 hour away from Ouagadougou, to collect more passengers or disembark others, so expect a 2-hour stopover on the same plane. Upon arrival, you may be asked to prove you've been vaccinated against Yellow Fever if you are travelling from within Africa. Failure to provide proof may result in either being forced to receive the vaccination at the airport, for a fee, or be refused entry into the country. You will be scanned and photographed and finger-digitized upon entry, and upon leaving controls will be even worse. Your baggage and your persona will be checked multiple times prior to boarding, often repeating the same procedure over and over, to the point of nonsense (an officer having just left you, six feet away another, differently attired officer will pick you up repeating the whole procedure once again: hand baggage check, passport check, casual questions, metal detector).

Upon arriving at the airport carousel to claim your luggage, a number of men in uniforms will want to take your luggage out for you. They will expect to receive about 500 CFAs (USD1) per bag (at least from an expat). Unfortunately, it is difficult for them to exchange anything other than a US$20 bill. Euros are a bit easier for them to change, but it is best if you bring exact change in CFAs. By train[ edit ] There is a 517 km railway stretch from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border. Count c. 48 hr a train trip duration from Abidjan to Ouagadougou, and slightly less than 24 hr for the trip duration from Bouake to Banfora. In August 2007, the cost trip from Abidjan to Ouaga was 30,000 CFA, with 5000 CFA more for First Class, which is not always available. By car[ edit ] Even wealthy Burkinabé who own cars do not use them to travel between major cities, but opt for buses instead.

The major routes between Ouagadougou and other cities are in good condition; taxi drivers can be erratic. By bus[ edit ] You can also conveniently take the bus in and out of Burkina to and from the neighbouring countries of Ghana, Mali, and Benin. There are buses and vans (cars) to Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Togo. There is a train service for the Abidjan-Banfora-Bobo-Ouaga route. Hitchhiking is not common. Talk[ edit ] French is the official language; obviously, outside the big cities, most people are not so fluent in French as the city-dwellers. Many African languages of the Sudanic family are widely spoken. The most common language is Mooré. Do not expect to get around with English as in most other parts of the world: West Africa is mainly Francophone, and English is virtually unknown. Most Burkinabè will speak a mixture of French and Dioula dialects among themselves. The more they know each other, the more Dioula will pop up in their talking, and vice-versa.

Among wealthy locals and government/company officials though, only French is spoken, as reverting to Dioula is considered low-class. Beware that the accent and word use in the French spoken in West Africa is quite different to that spoken in France, and can present difficulties if your French is not very strong. See[ edit ][ add listing ] Laongo is home to a variety of sculptures by local and international artists The park's scattered pieces of granite have been transformed into beautiful works of art The Sindou Peaks in Banfora consists of a narrow chain of soft rock that over the years has been eroded into unusual rock formations Festivals[ edit ] Burkina Faso is the home of music in West Africa. Festival International de la Culture Hip Hop (International Festival of Hip Hop Culture)—Ouagadougou & Bobo-Dioulasso; October; Two weeks of Hip Hop performances Festival Jazz (Jazz Festival)—Ouaga & Bobo; April/May; Features big names from around the continent Festival des Masques et des Arts (FESTIMA; Arts & Masks Festival)—Dédougou; March of even-numbered years; Hundreds of troupes of mask dancers from across West Africa perform.

Festival Panafricain du Cinéma (FESPACO;Panafrican Film Festival)—Ouaga; Feb/Mar of odd-numbered years; Africa's largest film festival held every other year brings stars and filmmakers from across the continent. Semaine Nationale de la Culture (National Culture Week)—Bobo; March/April; music, dance, theatre, & masquerades fill the air this week in Bobo Do[ edit ][ add listing ] There is a remarkably rich music scene in Burkina (as well as in the adjoining countries), with lots of reggae, salsa, soukous and traditional orchestras and bands playing in a lot of venues, both well known and hidden. Any local will gladly take you to some events where men and women eat, drink, dance and have a good time in a very safe, almost childlike manner, rather uncommon nowadays in western countries. Starting in Gorom Gorom, you can take a camel ride out into the desert and even sleep out there on the sand. Guides can arrange this for you from Gorom Gorom and it can be expensive if you do not pick your guides carefully. Take warm clothes and good blankets if you plan to sleep in the desert.

Women should bring pants to wear on camels because skirts (especially African pagnes) tend to fall open due to the shape of the saddle. There is a beautiful hike alongside the waterfalls outside of Banfora. The admission price is one or two thousand francs. Be careful not to spend too much time in the water - tourists occasionally catch bilharzia, also known as Schistosomiasis, from swimming in the falls. The locals will tell you that swimming will not make you sick, but it can. Also near Banfora is a lake (more of a pond, actually) where you can take a trip out on a pirogue to see the hippos. Do not expect too much. Often all you see of the hippos is ears sticking up out of the water. Remember, hippos are dangerous animals who do not like being bumped by pirogues that get too close, so be careful. This will cost two or three thousand CFA per person. A couple of hours West of Banfora is Sindou, with the Sindou peaks. These rock formations are somewhat like the North American hoodoos. They are needle-like peaks that have shaped by wind erosion.

The Sindou peaks are a great spot for a short hike or a picnic. A guide is not necessary to find your way around but can tell you many fascinating facts about Senoufo culture and the time when the village, which is now at the base of the peaks, used to be located up on the plateau. Look out for the thorn plants on the plateau - the Senoufo imported them from Mali to use the thorns to make poisoned arrows. Admission is 1000 CFA. You will need to give the guide a tip. Buy fabric and get an African outfit made. In Ouagadougou, you will pay 3750 CFA for "three pagnes" of fabric. You can then take this to a tailor and have three items made - for women this is usually a shirt and skirt then a length of fabric left over to make a wrap-around skirt. Men can have shirts made. The going rate for a woman's outfit and skirt is 3500 CFA. Fancier models and embroidery will cost extra, as much as 20,000 CFA if you want elaborate embroidery.

See the crocodiles at one of the crocodile lakes outside of Ouaga, on the road to Bobo-Dioulasso. Explore the mud mosque in Bobo-Dioulasso. An Imam's son can serve as your guide. Remove your shoes at the entrance. Dress modestly. Women should be prepared to cover their heads, although this is not always requested. You will need to pay admission (1000 CFA), give a tip to the guide and give a tip to the kid who guards your shoes while you are inside. Explore the elaborate mosques in Bani, near Dori on the road to Ouaga. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Good markets exist in Bobo Dioulasso, Dori, Gorom-Gorom, Ouahigouya and Ouagadougou. Bargaining in traditional marketplaces is recommended. Purchases include wooden statuettes, bronze models, masks, worked skins from the tannery in Ouagadougou, jewellery, fabrics, hand-woven blankets and leather goods and crafts ranging from chess sets to ashtrays. The Grande Marché in Bobo Dioulasso is a much smaller and less cramped market.

The Village Artisanal near the SIAO centre in the ring road of Ouagadougou has lots of arts & craft shops where you can conveniently find all sorts of very nice objects such as traditional clothing, sandals, costume jewellery, furniture items, decoratives, and much more to buy at slightly higher but still very reasonable prices. There is an exchange office close to the gate where you can also withdraw money from your card. Keep the receipts for any art you buy, as they need to be presented upon exit at the gate. Currency[ edit ] As in seven other independent West African countries, the currency of Burkina Faso is the franc of the Communauté Financière Africaine (CFA), symbolised as XOF. It's fixed relative to the euro: €1 = XOF655.957. In Jan 2015, USD1 = XOF585 Credit cards are rarely accepted, but cash may be withdrawn with a card at certain banks in all major towns (Ouaga, Bobo, Banfora, Dori, and Ouahigouya are confirmed).

In general, most bank machines will accept only VISA cards, with a PIN or a CarteBleu. However, the ATMs of Banque Atlantique in Ouagadougou will accept MasterCard so look for those if you want to withdraw cash with your MasterCard. Make sure you have a PIN for your credit card in order to access money from the bank machines. Travellers' cheques (better luck in euros than in dollars) can usually be cashed at local banks in Ouaga and Bobo, but with large change fees. For the cost of $5.00 you can send yourself or others a Moneygram to get money in country. If you don't use it, you can cancel the Moneygram and get your money back. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Any run-of-the-mill Burkinabé restaurant will most certainly have one or all of the following: Riz Gras = Rice cooked in flavored stock, often with onion. Sometimes served with extra sauce on top, but not a given. Somtimes served with a chunk of meat, or fish.

it is a very small-grain rice, very similar to couscous, and prepared in a likewise manner Riz Sauce or Riz Tomate = Pretty self-explanatory. White rice usually served with a tomato or peanut sauce. Tô = a millet or corn flour based jello-like dish served with a sauce. Sauces commonly are okra-based (fr. "sauce gumbo" - tends to be on the viscous-side), peanut-based (fr. "sauce arachide"), baobab-leaf-based (not bad tasting, but very slimy), or sorrel-based (fr. "oseille", another green-leaf, a little sour). You eat this dish by breaking off some tô with a spoon (or, if you want to go local and your hands are washed, use your finger - just remember to use always the right hand, as the left hand is considered "unclean" because it is used for bathroom purposes) and dipping it into the sauce. Difficult to eat for a non-local as it tastes sour and slimy. Definitely an an acquired taste. FuFu = a pizza-dough-like ball of starch served with a sauce.

Made by pounding boiled ignames (sort of a super-sized version of a yucca-potato hybrid). The sauce is usually tomato-based. Eaten in the same manner as tô. Ragout d'Igname = boiled igname in a tomato sauce. Spaghetti = Usually spaghetti is served au gras as opposed to spaghetti sauce. Haricots verts = Green-beans, usually from a can, with tomato sauce Petits pois = Green peas, usually from a can, with tomato sauce Soupe = usually chicken (fr. "poulet"), guinea fowl (fr. "pintade") or fish (fr. "poisson") Salade = a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion with a mayonnaise-based dressing (mayo, vinegar, salt, pepper) A Burkina speciality is "Poulet Telévisé" aka televised chicken, or roast chicken, since many locals say if you watch the roaster it is like watching TV!

Snacks: Beignets = (mooré samsa) fried bean flour Fried ignames, patate douce (sweet potato french fries) Alloco = Bbq'd plantains Brochettes = bbq'd meat sticks, or liver, or tripe, or intestines Porc au four = baked greasy pork bits served with hot sauce (fr. "piment"), salt, and if you are lucky, mustard. Best enjoyed with a Flag beer (to make "champagne", add some tonic) Gateau = fried dough. Comes in all sorts of varieties, best when fresh. Bisap = hibiscus leaf cold sweet tea, sometimes enhanced with mint and/or ginger (25-50 CFA) Yamoku, or Gingembre = sweet ginger drink (25-50 CFA) Toédo, or Pain de singe = sweet and "smoothie-like" in texture. Made from baobab fruit. Yoghurt = sweet dégué = yoghurt mixed with millet balls, sometimes couscous. Dolo = millet beer. Brakina = national Burkina beer, decent and light.

Beaufort = a superior beer also made in Burkina. Learn[ edit ] Burkina is a great country if you are interested in learning West African drumming. Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city, is perhaps the best place to learn to drum. Work[ edit ] If you are interested in helping to save lives in Western Africa then Burkina Faso, hit by severe drought and poverty in the last decade, would be ideal for a charity-holiday. Medical staff are also sorely needed, so any volunteering doctors would be greeted warmly. The Peace Corps is active in Burkina Faso and constitutes a large proportion of the Americans living in this country. Stay safe[ edit ] Burkina Faso is one of safest countries in West Africa. However, be aware of thieves in the big city. Violent assault is rare. Pickpockets and purse snatchers are something to watch out for in big cities, especially in Ouagadougou, where it is recommended not to carry a bag with you when at all possible. The common, cheap green taxis in the big city can sometimes host thieves. Hold on to your purse, and keep your money safely tucked away.

If you want to carry around a camera or other item that requires a bag, it is often safer to put it in one of the ubiquitous black "sachets" (plastic bags) that you get when you purchase something in a store, so that potential thieves will assume there's nothing of great value inside. Even in the capital's streets there are very few beggars, if any, compared to other African countries, and when you do encounter them, they are remarkably un-insisting and will walk away after a simple "No". You should always take precautions when travelling, but Burkina is a remarkably safe and respectful country. Women travellers rarely experience any problems. Foreigners, especially white foreigners, frequently attract significant attention, but the interest is mainly an attempt to sell you tourist items or overpriced goods. Indeed, the Burkinabé will show more patience and friendliness to the foreigner than to another Burkinabé, be it in a small village or in a big city. There was a violent altercation between military and police in Dec 2006. Members from involved parties made it a point to advise foreigners on the street that they should find shelter and stay out of harm's way.

The problem was resolved quickly and no foreigners came to any harm. Stay healthy[ edit ] Yellow fever vaccination required. Malaria is a serious problem, so be sure to begin take prophylaxis prior to leaving for Burkina and continue taking it while there and often for some time after returning home. Cholera vaccination may be required in event of outbreak. Meningitis is also a problem, and vaccination is highly suggested. Typhoid fever is common, as are other water and food-borne diseases such as E coli. Typhoid vaccination is recommended but it is not 100% effective so it is still important to take precautions. The water is NOT safe to drink, especially outside the big cities where untreated well water is often the norm. Buy bottled water, and bring a water filter for emergency use if you're planning on spending time in any villages. In Burkina you will often find little plastic soft "bags" of mineral water rather than plastic bottles. Respect[ edit ] You will observe the Burkinabé exchange greetings in what appears to be a shared prayer or ritual.

Literally, all they are saying is "good morning, how's the family, how's work, how's your health..." Greeting is a very important part of Burkinabé culture, and the only thing you really need to do here is to make an instant friend. Ignoring someone and not greeting him or her, however, is taken far more seriously than in western cultures. It is virtually a slap in the face to ignore someone that has greeted you, or to not greet at all. Foreigners can probably get away with being "cold" and "unfriendly" in some settings, but it is a good idea to greet everyone you pass by. Remember to always use your right hand when eating, greeting, offering gifts, paying for items, etc. This is true in both Muslim and Christian regions, as the left hand is used throughout the country in conjunction with water in place of toilet paper. The ubiquitous coloured plastic teapots are filled with water and carried to the bathroom for "wiping." Women are often targets of extra attention from men, but catcalls and unwanted advances are not appropriate in Burkina, so don't be afraid to refuse this attention. In general, people are very respectful to women and foreigners.

You will very rarely see people scantily dressed, barechested or barefooted in Burkina. It is a conservative country and men will most often wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed shoes even in scorching heat. Women will not be seen with short skirts or very high heels except in some Ouaga night clubs. Shorts are also not common. However women, even poor ones, will always be coiffed and well-kept, manicured and pedicured, and men are well dressed as well. You rarely encounter squalor or excessive misery in Burkina.

Burkina Faso | history - geography | Britannica.com Burkina Faso National anthem of Burkina Faso Official name multiparty republic with one legislative body (National Assembly [127])1 Head of state President: Roch Marc Christian Kaboré Head of government Prime Minister: Paul Kaba Thieba Capital Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate Male: (2007) 36.7% GNI per capita (U.S.$) (2014) 710 1A transitional government (effective November 2014) came to an end upon the inauguration of a democratically elected president on Dec. 29, 2015, and a new National Assembly elected its president (Salif Diallo) the following day. Burkina Faso, landlocked country in western Africa . The country occupies an extensive plateau, and its geography is characterized by a savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Burkinabé woman decorating a hut, Zécco, Burkina Faso.

© Margaret Courtney-Clarke/Corbis A former French colony, it gained independence as Upper Volta in 1960; the name Burkina Faso, which means “Land of Incorruptible People,” was adopted in 1984. The capital, Ouagadougou , is in the centre of the country and lies about 500 miles (800 km) from the Atlantic Ocean . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Land Burkina Faso is bounded by Mali to the north and west, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, and Côte d’Ivoire , Ghana , and Togo to the south. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Relief, drainage, and soils Burkina Faso is situated on an extensive plateau, which is slightly inclined toward the south.

The lateritic (red, leached, iron-bearing) layer of rock that covers the underlying crystalline rocks is deeply incised by the country’s three principal rivers—the Black Volta (Mouhoun), the Red Volta (Nazinon), and the White Volta (Nakambé)—all of which converge in Ghana to the south to form the Volta River . The Oti , another tributary of the Volta, rises in southeastern Burkina Faso. Great seasonal variation occurs in the flow of the rivers, and some rivers become dry beds during the dry season. In the southwest there are sandstone plateaus bordered by the Banfora Escarpment, which is about 500 feet (150 metres) high and faces southeast. Much of the soil in the country is infertile. Climate African Leaders: Part One The northern part of the country consists of savanna , with prickly shrubs and stunted trees that flourish during the rainy season. In the south, the prickly shrubs give way to scattered forests, which become more dense along the banks of the perennial rivers.

The karite (shea tree) and the baobab (hibiscus tree) are endemic in this region. Animal life includes buffalo, antelope, lions, hippopotamuses, elephants, crocodiles, and monkeys. Bird and insect life is rich and varied, and there are many species of fish in the rivers. Burkina Faso’s national parks include Po in the south-centre of the country, Arly in the southeast, and “W” in the east, straddling the border with Benin and Niger. People Ethnic groups and languages The major ethnolinguistic group of Burkina Faso is the Mossi . They speak a Niger-Congo language of the Gur branch and have been connected for centuries to the region they inhabit. They have absorbed a number of peoples including the Gurma and the Yarse. The last-mentioned group has Mande origins but is assimilated into the Mossi and shares their language (called Moore). Other Gur-speaking peoples are the Gurunsi, the Senufo , the Bwa , and the Lobi . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

western Africa Mande languages , which also form a branch of the Niger-Congo family, are spoken by groups such as the Samo, the Marka, the Busansi, and the Dyula . Other groups of Burkina Faso include the Hausa and the Tuareg , whose languages are classified as Afro-Asiatic , and the Fulani , whose language (Fula) is a Niger-Congo language of the Atlantic branch . Citizens of Burkina Faso, regardless of their ethnic origin, are collectively known as Burkinabé. French is the official language, although it is not widely spoken. Moore , the language of the Mossi, is spoken by a great majority of the population, and Dyula is widely used in commerce. Religion More than half the population is Muslim. About one-fifth of the Burkinabé are Roman Catholic, and one-sixth follow traditional religions. Most of the remainder are Protestant or nonreligious. The seat of the Roman Catholic archbishopric is in Ouagadougou , and there are several bishoprics throughout the country. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Settlement patterns The population as a whole is unevenly distributed among the different regions.

The eastern and central regions are densely settled and contain about half the total population. In the remaining regions the population is scattered. About three-fourths of the people are rural and live in villages, which tend to be grouped toward the centre of the country at higher elevations away from the Volta river valleys. For several miles on either side of the Volta rivers, the land is mostly uninhabited because of the prevalence of the deadly tsetse fly , which carries sleeping sickness , and the Simulium fly, which carries onchocerciasis , or river blindness. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Ouagadougou , the administrative capital and the seat of government, is a modern city where several companies have their headquarters. It is also the residence of the morho naba (“great lord”) of the Mossi and an important regional centre for international aid programs. French embassy building, Ouagadougou, Burk. Walter Weiss/Ostman Agency Apart from Ouagadougou, the principal towns are Bobo Dioulasso , Koudougou , Banfora, Ouahigouya, Pouytenga, and Kaya.

Bobo Dioulasso, in the west, was the economic and business capital of the country when it formed the terminus of the railroad running to Abidjan , Côte d’Ivoire, on the coast. Since 1955, however, when the railroad was extended to Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso has lost some of its former importance, although it remains a commercial centre. Demographic trends In the early 21st century, yearly population growth averaged about 3 percent; nearly half the population was below age 15. Average life expectancy was just above 50 years—lower than the global average but similar to that of neighbouring countries. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Economy About nine-tenths of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture or livestock raising. Difficult economic conditions, made worse by severe intermittent droughts, have provoked considerable migration from rural to urban areas within Burkina Faso and to neighbouring countries, most notably Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. As many as 1.5 million people, or almost one-third of the country’s labour force, have been abroad at any given time.

(In the early 21st century, however, unrest in neighbouring countries, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, made it difficult for Burkinabés to find employment.) The development of industry in Burkina Faso is hampered by the small size of the market economy and by the absence of a direct outlet to the sea. Beginning in the late 1990s, the government began to privatize some state-owned entities in order to attract foreign investment. Agriculture Agricultural production consists of subsistence foodstuffs, with the surplus being sold as cash crops. Surplus cotton, shea nuts, sesame, and sugarcane are exported, while sorghum , millet , corn (maize), peanuts (groundnuts), and rice are grown for local consumption . Fonio (a crabgrass with seeds that are used as cereal), cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, and beans are also grown. Livestock raising is one of the principal sources of revenue; animals raised include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, camels, chickens, ducks, and guinea fowl. Resources Minerals, particularly manganese and gold , are the chief sources of potential wealth for the country.

There are gold mines at Poura, southwest of Koudougou, and smaller gold deposits near Sebba and Dori-Yalogo in the north exist. Reserves of nickel, bauxite, zinc, lead, and silver are also found in the country. Burkina Faso’s substantial manganese deposits at Tambao in the northeast potentially represent its most important resource and one of the world’s richest sources of this mineral. Exploitation is limited by existing transport inadequacies. Manufacturing Industry is limited to a number of plants that are mainly in the cities and larger towns. Chief manufactures include foodstuffs, beverages, textiles, shoes, and bicycle parts. Finance Burkina Faso’s currency is the CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) franc , which has been officially pegged to the euro . It is issued by the Central Bank of West African States, an agency of the West African Economic and Monetary Union , which consists of eight countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau , Mali, Niger, Senegal , and Togo) that were once French colonies in Africa.

Branches of the central bank in Burkina Faso are located in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Among the partially or wholly state-owned commercial banks, the most important is the Banque Internationale du Burkina in Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso is also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a body encompassing most states in western Africa, which attempts to integrate and harmonize the economic interests of the region. One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina Faso relies heavily on international aid and on remittances from migrants to help offset its current account deficit. Trade Burkina Faso’s main exports in the early 21st century included cotton, gold, livestock, sugar, and fruit. Most of its exports are sent to neighbouring African countries, but some, including cotton and minerals, are exported to China, Singapore, and the countries of the European Union . Chief imports include petroleum, chemical products, machinery, and foodstuffs, which mainly come from surrounding countries as well as from France .

There is a deficit in the balance of payments, largely because of the relatively small amounts of exports, which are not of sufficient value to equal the value of imported materials required for promoting further development. Transportation A rail line links Ouagadougou to the port of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire; it is some 700 miles (1,100 km) long, of which about 320 miles (500 km) run through Burkina Faso. (For several years in the early 2000s, the line was closed because of civil war in Côte d’Ivoire). Running from east to west before crossing the border, the line serves the towns of Koudougou, Bobo Dioulasso, and Banfora. The capital is also linked by road to the principal administrative centres in the country and to the capitals of neighbouring countries. Burkina Faso’s road networks are poorly developed, with only a small percentage of the network usable year-round. The remainder consists mostly of unpaved rural roads. International airports are located at Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Numerous smaller airstrips are found throughout the country.

Government and society Constitutional framework Burkina Faso’s constitution was adopted by referendum in 1991 and has since been amended . It allows for multiparty elections and a parliamentary republic with a president as chief of state and a prime minister, who is appointed by the president, as the head of the government . The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and may serve up to two consecutive terms. The legislative branch of the government is represented by the National Assembly, whose members are elected by universal suffrage for five-year terms. In 2014 popular unrest led to the dissolution of the government in October, followed by the establishment of a transitional administration in November. It was succeeded by a democratically elected government that commenced with the inauguration of a new president and a new National Assembly in late December 2015 and a new prime minister in January 2016. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Local government Burkina Faso is divided into régions, which in turn are divided into provinces, which are further divided into départements. Each région is administered by a governor, and each province is administered by a high commissioner. Health and welfare The state of health of the Burkinabé is generally poor.

Most hospitals are in the larger towns, but the government has improved access to primary health care by increasing the number of village clinics. Main causes of death in Burkina Faso include lower respiratory diseases, malaria , and diarrheal diseases . Other diseases in the country include onchocerciasis , sleeping sickness , leprosy , yellow fever , and schistosomiasis . Periodic droughts have contributed to malnutrition and related diseases, especially among young children and pregnant women. Burkina Faso has a lower prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS than do many other African countries, although it is higher than the world average. The government has focused on prevention and treatment of AIDS with some success, and the prevalence rate has decreased since the beginning of the 21st century. Education School enrollment is one of the lowest in Africa, even though the government devotes a large portion of the national budget to education. French is the language of instruction in primary and secondary schools. About one-fourth of the population aged 15 and older is literate. The primary institution for higher education is Ouagadougou University (established 1974). Research institutes in Ouagadougou offer degrees in rural engineering and hydrology.

There are a polytechnic university and a college for rural development in Bobo Dioulasso. A university was established in Koudougou in 2005. Some Burkinabé seek higher education in France, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire. Cultural life Folkloric traditions are rich in Burkina Faso, reflecting the country’s ethnic diversity . The Mossi are known for creating antelope masks that reach heights of up to 7 feet (2 metres). Bobo butterfly masks and the wood carvings of the Lobi are also well regarded for their artistry. The biennial Pan-African Film Festival (FESPACO) in Ouagadougou is popular, as is the International Crafts Fair, which celebrates the country’s artisans. The National Museum (1962) in the capital city houses artifacts from the country’s diverse ethnic groups. Information about earlier inhabitants of the area can be gleaned from the ruins of a fortified settlement at Loropéni, located in the southern part of the country. The ruins date back some 1,000 years and were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009.

Several daily newspapers are published, including the government-sponsored Sidwaya (“Truth”), as well as a number of weeklies. Burkina Faso has made a major effort to become competitive on the African sports scene. Wrestling is popular in the country, and Burkinabé athletes have competed in the African Nations Traditional Wrestling Championship. The country has its own basketball league and an annual international cycling tour. Football (soccer), however, is by far the country’s passion. Burkina Faso boasts a highly competitive national football league, and the national team has competed in the African Nations Cup tournament. Upper Volta first sent an Olympic team to the 1972 Munich Games, although the first athletes from Upper Volta to participate in the Olympics were two javelin throwers who competed in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics as members of the French team. The country’s first participation in the Olympics as Burkina Faso was in the 1988 Seoul Games. History Early history Axes belonging to a Neolithic culture have been found in the north of Burkina Faso. The Bobo , the Lobi , and the Gurunsi are the earliest known inhabitants of the country.

About the 15th century ce, conquering horsemen invaded the region from the south and founded the Gurma and Mossi kingdoms, in the eastern and central areas, respectively. Several Mossi kingdoms developed, the most powerful of which was that of Ouagadougou, located in the centre of the country. Headed by an emperor, the morho naba (“great lord”), the Ouagadougou Mossi state defeated attempted invasions by the Songhai and Fulani empires yet maintained valuable commercial links with major western African trading powers, including the Dyula , the Hausa , and the Asante . European exploration and colonization The German explorer Gottlob Adolf Krause traversed the Mossi country in 1886, and the French army officer Louis-Gustave Binger visited the morho naba in 1888.

France obtained a protectorate over the Yatenga empire in 1895, and the French officers Paul Voulet and Charles Paul Louis Chanoine (also known as Julien Chanoine) defeated the morho naba Boukari-Koutou (Wobogo) of Mossi in 1896 and then proceeded to overrun the Gurunsi lands. The Gurma accepted a French protectorate in 1897, and in that same year the lands of the Bobo and of the Lobi were annexed by the French (though the Lobi, armed with poisoned arrows, were not effectively subdued until 1903). An Anglo-French convention of 1898 fixed the frontier between France’s new acquisitions and the northern territories of the Gold Coast . The French divided the country into administrative cercles (“circles”) but maintained the chiefs, including the morho naba, in their traditional seats. The country at first was attached to Upper Senegal–Niger (as that colony was called from 1904 to 1920; now Mali ) but was organized as a separate colony, Upper Volta (Haute-Volta), in 1919.

In 1932 it was partitioned between Côte d’Ivoire , Niger , and French Sudan . In 1947, however, Upper Volta was reestablished to become an overseas territory of the French Union , with a territorial assembly of its own. The assembly in 1957 received the right to elect an executive council of government for the territory, which at the end of 1958 was transformed into an autonomous republic within the French Community . When independence was proclaimed on August 5, 1960, the new constitution provided for an executive president elected by universal adult suffrage for a five-year term and an elected Legislative Assembly . Ouagadougou Encyclopedia > Places > Africa > Burkina Faso Political Geography Ouagadougou Ouagadougou or Wagadugu (both: wägədōˈgō) [ key ], city (1991 est. pop. 634,500), capital of Burkina Faso. It is the nation's largest city and its administrative, communications, and economic center. Ouagadougou is also the trade and distribution center for an agricultural region whose main crop is peanuts.

The city's industry is limited to handicrafts and the processing of food and beverages. It has an international airport, rail connections with Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and road links with Niamey, Niger. Ouagadougou was founded in the late 11th cent. as the capital of a Mossi empire ruled by the moro naba [ruler of the world]. It remained a center of Mossi power until 1896, when French forces captured it. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

Question: Ouagadougou is the capital of which country?
Answer: Burkina Faso