EXPEDITION 1

Burkina Faso, Africa

A snapshot of information about each of the cities and villages the field team will be visiting while in Burkina Faso appears below.

United Nations Square in Ouagadougou. ©Helge Fahrnberger

Ouagadougou

The capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou is located in the center of the country and serves as the economic and cultural hub of the nation. It is also the country’s largest city, with a population of approximately 1.5 million. Often called simply Ouaga by locals, the city was the capital of the powerful Mossi Empire between 1441 and 1919, until the French colonized the region and made Ouagadougou the seat of their colonial administration.

Koudougou

Koudougou is a town in the province of Boulkiemdé, 47 miles (75 km) west of Ouagadougou. It is inhabited primarily by Mossi. Due to its location along the only railway line in the country, it is home to a number of industries, including a soap factory, shea butter factory, cotton factory, and various textile factories.

Crocodiles in Burkina Faso. ©Guillaume Colin

Sabou

Sabou is a town in the province of Boulkiemdé, near Koudougou. It is famous for its crocodiles, which are venerated by its citizens and serve as a major tourist attraction.

Beehives in Fada N'gourma. ©Marco Schmidt

Fada N’gourma

Fada N’gourma, also written Fada-Ngourma, is a city in eastern Burkina Faso, 136 miles (219 km) east of Ouagadougou, in the Gourmantché area. It is the capital of the Gourma province. It was founded by Diaba Lompo as Bingo and is known for its blanket and rug manufacturing. It is also famed for its honey.

Fada N’Gourma is mainly inhabited by Gulmance people, along with some Mossi and Peuhl. The Gulmance account for only 4.5% of the national population, but have a strong culture with much history. The founder of Fada is said to have ridden a horse up a baobab tree and disappeared, but the horse’s hoof prints remain in the tree.

Kaya

Kaya lies 62 miles (100 km) northeast of Ouagadougou, to which it is connected by railway, and is the capital of the province Sanmatenga. It is the eighth largest city in Burkina Faso and serves as a center for weaving and tanning.

Elaborately decorated Gourounsi homes in Tiébélé. ©Rita Willaert

Tiébélé

Tiébélé is a picturesque village in Nahouri Province in southeastern Burkina Faso renowned for the unique architecture of the well-preserved traditional houses of the Gourounsi people found there.

VIDEO: Plastic Bag Recycling Project

Cassou

Cassou is a village in Ziro Province in southern Burkina Faso.