Bamako
Bamako, population about 1,500,000 (
2004), is the
capital of
Mali, and is the biggest city in the country. It is located on the
Niger River, in the southwestern part of the country. Bamako is the nation's administrative center, as well as a
river port and a major regional trade center. Manufactures include
textiles, processed meat, and
metal goods. There is commercial
fishing on the Niger River. Bamako is located at 12°39' North, 8° West (12.65, -8.0). [
1]
The area of the city has been continuously inhabited since the
Palaeolithic, but the legendary founding of Bamako occurred in the
seventeenth century by
Seribadian Niaré and
Soumba Coulibaly, or
Bamba Sanago, before its chiefdom passed to
Diaoussadian Niaré. The city was an important
market town and a leading center of
Muslim learning under the
Mali Empire, but by the
19th century it had declined. In
1883 the region was occupied by
French troops, and in
1908, Bamako became the capital of the
French Sudan. Its population has grown rapidly; in
1960 Bamako's population was approximately 160,000.
|
Location of Bamako in Mali |
Notable landmarks in Bamako include the
National Library of Mali,
Tour BCEAO,
Bamako Grand Mosque and the
Pont du Roi Fahd. It is home to Mali's largest international
airport, as well as the
Dakar-Niger Railway, to
Koulikoro in eastern Mali and
Dakar in
Senegal. Attractions include the
Mali National Museum, the
Muso Kunda Museum, the
Bamako Regional Museum,
Bamako Zoo, the
Bamako Botanical Gardens and the
Point G hill, containing
caves with
rock paintings. Bamako has hosted the biannual photography festival
African Photography Encounters since 1994.
In 1988, Bamako was the location of a
WHO conference known as the
Bamako Initiative that helped reshape health policy of
Sub-Saharan Africa.
The yearly held
Budapest-Bamako rally has the endpoint in Bamako.
Senou International Airport is in Bamako.
 |
Sotramas in Bamako |
*
Hippodrome* Niarela
* Korofina
* Badalabougou
* Torokorobougou
* Bamako Coura
* Djicoroni
* Baco Djicoroni (= behind the river)
* Missira
* Médina Coura
* Bankoni
* Magnambougou
*
Rochester,
USA (since 1975)
*
Bamako-culture.org (French language)*
Bamako at Cités du Monde (French language)*
The Bamako Appeal*
Mali Music Scene article in the New York Times*
Music samples article in the New York times*
Drumming Videos Shot in Bamako WNBA player
Hamchetou Maiga
