Ouagadougou

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Ouagadougou (WAH-GAH-doo-goo) is the capital of Burkina Faso. It is the country's largest city, with a population of 960,116 (2000) and is the communications, cultural and economic centre as well as the administrative centre. Its name is often shortened to Ouaga.

Contents

Municipal Life

Location of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso

History

Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso was called the Republic of Upper Volta when it attained independence from France in 1960. It was renamed Burkina Faso by Thomas Sankara in 1984. The origin of the name Ouagadougou goes back to the 15th century. At that time, two different populations, the Yonyonse and the Ninsi, inhabited the area. They were always warring. This ended in 1441 when Wubri, a Yonyonse hero and an important figure in Burkina Faso’s history, led his ethnic group to victory. He then renamed the area from “Kumbee-Tenga”, as the Ninsi had called it, to “Wogodogo”, meaning "where people get honor and respect." Ouagadougou is a deformation of Wogodogo.Commune Ouagadougou.(2005). Mairie de ouagadougou. Retrieved March 19,2006 from http://www.mairie-Ouaga.bf

Ouagadougou in general

Ouagadougou's primary industries are food processing and textiles. Ouagadougou is served by an international airport, rail links to Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire and to Kaya in the north of Burkina, and a highway to Niamey, Niger. In part as a result, there are many cinemas, alongside nightclubs and French, American and Zaka cultural centres. Ouagadougou is the site of Ouagadougou Grand Market, one of the largest markets in West Africa. Other attractions include the National Museum of Burkina Faso, the Moro-Naba Palace (site of the Moro-Naba Ceremony) and several craft markets. The spelling of the name derives from the French orthography common in former French African colonies. If English orthography were used (as in Ghana or Nigeria), the spelling would be Wagadugu.

“Nation Unies’crossroads

Geography

Ouagadougou, situated on the central plateau (12.4° N 1.5° W), grew around the imperial palace of the Mogho Naaba. The presence of the colonial authority helped develop its population into an important urban center. At the same time capital of the Mossi Empire and of Burkina-Faso since 1947, Ouagadougou became a veritable communal center in 1995.

Government

The first municipal elections were organized in 1956.

The city is divided into 5 districts, 30 sectors. Areas of Ouagadougou include Gounghin, Kamsaoghin, Koulouba, Moemmin, Niogsin, Paspanga, Peuloghin and Tiendpalogo. Seventeen villages are joined to the town. The area is about 21,930 ha. Estimated to 1,200,000 inhabitants, the population is consisted of 48% men and 50% of women. The rural population is about 5% and the urban population is about 95% and the density is 6,249 inhabitants for every square kilometer, according to 1997 statistics.

Climate

The climate of Ouagadougou is rather hot. The town is part of the Soudano-Sahelian area with a rainfall of 750mm per year. The rainy season stretches from May to October with an average temperature of 30°C. The cold period stretches from December to January, with a minimum temperature of 19°C. The maximum temperature during the hot period which runs from April to May is 40°C. The Harmattan (a dry wind) and the Monsoon represent the two regimes which influence the climate of Ouagadougou.

Ouagadougou City Map

Please see the following: [The Plan of Ouagdougou]Burkina-Faso: Le plan de Ouagadougou.(2004). Le plan de Ouagadougou(Burkina-Faso. Retrieved March 22,2006 from http://www.izf.net/documentation/cartes/centreville/Ouagadougou

Tourism

Ouagadougou and its neighborhoods are very attractive places. Lots of places can be visited and discovered. Among important parks which are recommended to be visited, there is the “Bangr-Weoogo” urban park. This park was in the past time Mosse Chiefs Property and it was a sacred forest wherein anything inside (objects, animals…) was too. It was also a place of traditional initiation and a refuge for people. It lost all its values with the colonialism. The park has been delimited in 1932 and limited on October 9th, 1936 with different objectives that have been set by the colonizers. In 1985, constructions and innovations started in the park. Finally, in January 2001 the forest had been baptized “Parc Urbain Brang-Weoogo” which means the forest of the knowledge. All the change has driven the forest to have new regulations and objectives. The area of the park is about 263 ha and it presently offers numerous structures. Apart from the park that has just been discussed, another park called “L’Unite Pedagogique” exists which shelters animals in semi-freedom. This botanic garden stretches out on an area of 8ha, and is at the same time a museum, wherein the country’s history is exposed. Apart from the parks, Ouagadougou has a lot of other great places such as monuments. The first monument that would be presented has a height of 6m, reflecting a wife handling a calabash (giving water), the place is called “Naba Koom”. This monument faces the railroad station and welcomes strangers coming into Ouaga. The place bears the name of one important Chief in Burkina-Faso’s history. Another monument is “Jardin de l’amitie Ouaga-Loudun”, with a green space that has been redone in term of structure in 1996. The garden is a symbol of the twining relationship between Ouagadougou and Loudun in France. It is situated in the center of the town, near the “Nation Unies’crossroads”. In addition to monuments and places “La Place du Grand Lyon” can be mentioned. This monument just like the previous one reflects the relationship between Burkina-Faso’s capital and Lyon in France. Located near the French cultural Center George Melies, this monument shows an imposing lion. Furthermore, “Parc Animalier de Ziniare”, located at 30km East of the city, can be included among the great tourist attraction sites of Ouagadougou. Situated at 55km North-West of the township “Musee de Manega” exposes all the musical instruments of Burkina-Faso. “Laongo”, a place located at 30km East of the city with enormous granites that were designed by sculptor artists reflects a charm because the place overflows with artistic potentials from all the five continents.

Social actions and Education

Education

The social actions and education in Ouagadougou correspond to the third important part of this presentation. This point represents one of the vital sectors of the town. In regard to education, it can be noticed that the schooling rate and the one of educated people is not high. The official language is French and the principal local languages are More, Djula and Fulfulde. The bilingual program (French plus another local language) has been established in 1994. The University of Ouagadougou founded in 1974 is the university owned by the government. Presently about ten other universities and institutions have been installed from side to side of the city.

Sport, Culture, and leisures

A wide diversity of sports is practiced, such as, soccer, basketball, volleyball, handball and so on. Sometimes, some inter sports activities are organized by the town leaders. Relating to the culture and leisure aspect, a considerable number of spectacle rooms and places such as maison du peuple, salle des banquets. There are many kinds of music played in Ouagadougou: the traditional music, the modern music, the rap music…

Art and Crafts

Several international festivals and activities are organized within the municipality, such as FESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou) 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 to name a few. Furthermore, Ouagadougou is endowed with a craft value and this is the cause of the origin of the diversity of the artistic object. La Girafe.(2004). Ouaga-ca-bouge. Retrieved March 19, 2006 from http://www.Ouaga-ca-bouge.net

Teams and Services

International Relations

Ouagadougou is governed by the Mayor, elected for five years, two main advisers and ninety other advisers. They all work together for the development of their community. It is in this unison that they create links with the outside world. These links are essential because they contribute to increasing the standing of Ouagadougou. They also affirm its radiance, to arouse collaborations, to prepare a qualitative and charming way to welcome strangers and partners. All that to result of making the experience exchange easier.

Some partner towns

Here are some towns twinned with the city: Lyon (France), Grenoble (France), Quebec (Canada), Turin (Italy), Leuze (Belgium), San Minialo and Kuweit City (Kuweit). Concerning the management side of the city, the communes of Ouagadougou took the decision to invest in huge projects. This is largely due to the fact that Ouagadougou constitutes a 'cultural centre' by merit of holding the SIAO (the international Arts and Crafts fair) and the FESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou). Moreover, affluence from the villages exists adding the fact that the population is growing at a rate rather fast.

Practical information

Communication and Media

Communication and media have been developed in Ouagadougou which contributes a lot to the development of the city. These infrastructures have been recessed due to the reason that the municipal council members have decided to undertake some actions in order to reduce some insufficiencies. Insifficiencies such as the lack of health care, prostitution, low education rate, the criminal rate and so on. The leaders considered that to achieve these goals, the population, must be sensitized, which is done through communication and media, hence this causes their prestige.

Hotels and Restaurants

Concerning the restaurants and hotels sector, a tremendous effort has been done to improve their standards. Today, luxury classes of hotels can be found(example: 4-star,5-star). routard.com.(2006). Burkina-Faso. Retrieved March 26,2006 from http://www.routard.com

Health

In reference to the health sector, two genre of infrastructures exist: public and private. The two national hospitals in the boron are the Centre hospitalier national Yalgado Ouedraogo (CHNYO) and the Centre hospitalier national pediatrique Charles de Gaule (CHNP-CDG). Apart from these two, there are many other health infrastructures. Notwithstanding the fact that the modern health infrastructures are increasing, the population most of time trust more in traditional health care and the “pharmacope”.Commune Ouagadougou.(2005). Mairie de ouagadougou. Retrieved March 19,2006 from http://www.mairie-Ouaga.bf

Transport

In regards to the transportation issue, the citizens of Ouagadougou prefer the individual transportation which alludes to bicycle and mostly motorbike. Ouagadougou is the third capital of two coil engines. In the past few years, the number of automobile has increased. At office hours the melting of the two coil engines with the automobiles is a veritable spectacle.Commune Ouagadougou.(2005). Mairie de ouagadougou. Retrieved March 19,2006 from http://www.mairie-Ouaga.bfroutard.com.(2006). Burkina-Faso. Retrieved March 26,2006 from http://www.routard.com

Typical street scene. Shows the Place des Nations Unies in the center of the city.

References

External links

[Ouagadougou] Official site of the government of Ouagadougou

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