Koulikoro Region
Koulikoro is a region in
Mali. It is the second administrative area of Mali and covers an area of 90,120 km². Its capital is the city of
Koulikoro.
The region of Koulikoro is bordered by
Mauritania on the north, the region of
Kayes on the west, by
Guinea and the region of
Sikasso on the south, and by the region of
Ségou to the east. Koulikoro Region has a population of 1,516,486 people, particularly
Bambaras,
Malinkés and
Somonos around the
Niger River.
The region is irrigated by several rivers, including the Niger, Baoulé, Sankarani, Baogé, Bani and
Bafing. The climate of the region's south has the high rainfall typical of the
Sudan, while north of the Kita-Bamako axis, it tends to a
Sahelian aridity.
The largest cities of the region are
Kati,
Koulikoro,
Kolokani, Nara,
Banamba and
Dioïla. The
Boucle du Baoulé National Park and the natural reserves of Fina,
Kongossambougou and
Badinko shelter a diversity of wildlife.
The region of Koulikoro is the seat of several great empires which followed one another in Mali: the
Ghana Empire, the
Sosso Empire and the
Mali Empire.
The land of the Manding (or Mandé) is located in this area. It is the cradle of the Empire of Mali and known for preserving its traditional culture with its
griots and its hunters. Like much of Mali, the area is strongly
Islamized, but the practices of
animists remain very present in the villages.
Bambara serves as the area's most common language.
Koulikoro is famous for its traditional
puppet theater, showcased in many festivals such as in the village of Diarabougou. Several musicians are natives of the region, including
Salif Keita and
Rokia Traoré.
Koulikoro is the terminus of the
Dakar-Niger railway. It is also an important port on the Niger River which makes it possible to serve the towns of
Ségou,
Mopti,
Tombouctou and
Gao. The area is served by the airport of Bamako-sénou.
Agriculture remains the dominant economic activity, although several industries are present in the district, such as the
Hydroelectric dam of Sélingué, gold-bearing industries around
Kangaba, and the
cotton production site in
Fana, Mali's second largest.
The region of Koulikoro is divided into 7
Cercles (
Banamba,
Dioïla,
Kangaba,
Kati,
Kolokani,
Koulikoro and
Niara), encompassing 106
communes.
Though Mali's capital
Bamako is located into the heart of the region, it is considered a region of its own.
