Koulikoro Region
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Koulikoro is a region in Mali. It is the second administrative area of Mali and it extends on 90,120 km2. Its capital is the town of Koulikoro.
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Geography
The region of Koulikoro is limited to the north by Mauritania, to the west by the region of Kayes, to the south by Guinea and the region of Sikasso and to the east by the region of Ségou.
The region has a population of 1,516,486 inhabitants. Various ethnic groups live in the area: Bambaras, Malinkés and Somonos around the Niger River.
The region is irrigated by several rivers: Niger, Baoulé, Sankarani, Baogé, Bani and Bafing.
In the south, the climate is of a Soudanien type. In the north of the axis Kita-Bamako, it is of a Sahélien type.
The large cities in 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 diversified fauna.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Although the area is, as the remainder of Mali, strongly Islamized, the practices of animists remain very present in the villages.
Bambara is the language most spoken in the area.
Koulikoro is famous for its traditional puppet theatre traditional, present in many festivals, like the one in the village of Diarabougou.
Several musicians are natives of the region, like Salif Keita (musician) and Rokia Traoré.
Transport and economy
Koulikoro is the terminus of the railway line Dakar-Niger. 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, like:.
- the Hydroelectric dam of Sélingué; and
- gold bearing industries around Kangaba.
Administrative subdivisions
The region of Koulikoro is divided into 7 Cercles (Banamba, Dioïla, Kangaba, Kati, Kolokani, Koulikoro and Niara), realigned into 106 communes.
Bamako, the capital of Mali, although being located into the hart of the region, is a region of its own.
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| Bamako Capital District | Gao | Kayes | Kidal | Koulikoro | Mopti | Ségou | Sikasso | Tombouctou | |
