Banfora facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Banfora
City
Banfora market
Banfora Location in Burkina Faso
Country	Burkina Faso
Region	Cascades
Province	Comoé
Elevation	303 m (994 ft)
Population  (2019 census)
• Total	117,452
Time zone	UTC+0 (GMT)
Area code(s)	+226 209

Banfora is a lively city in the southwest of Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa. It's home to about 117,452 people (as of 2019). This makes it the sixth largest city in Burkina Faso. Banfora is also the main city of the Comoe province. It is located about 85 kilometers (53 miles) southwest of Bobo-Dioulasso. The city is on the important Abidjan – Ouagadougou Railway line. A famous natural attraction nearby is the Cascades de Karfiguéla, which are beautiful waterfalls.

History of Banfora

A village scene from the area around Banfora, 1931

Street in Banfora

The first people to settle in the Banfora area were the Karaboro. Today, the Karaboro, along with the Gouin and Turka people, are the main ethnic groups living in the city. All these groups originally came from the southern part of Burkina Faso.

In 1903, French colonial forces set up a military base in Banfora. Just one year later, they created an administrative office there. This meant Banfora became an important center for the French. In 1905, a road was built to connect Banfora with Bobo-Dioulasso. Later, in 1931, a railway line was also built to reach the town.

Banfora's Economy

The economy of Banfora mainly revolves around the sugar cane industry. Growing and processing sugar cane is a big part of what people do for work here.

Banfora is also an important market town. This means it's a place where people from nearby areas come to buy and sell goods. There are also hotels in the city. These hotels support a small tourism industry. Many tourists come to see the beautiful Cascades de Karfiguéla waterfalls.

Getting Around Banfora

Banfora train station

Banfora has a train station that is part of the Abidjan – Ouagadougou Railway. This railway connects the city to other places. As of June 2014, a company called Sitarail ran passenger trains three times a week in both directions.

The city is a key stop for travel to and from Côte d'Ivoire. It is the last major city in Burkina Faso before you reach the border with Côte d'Ivoire. There is also a paved road that goes from Bobo-Dioulasso all the way to the border. Trucks carrying goods often stop at a place called Niangoloko before they go through customs.

Education in Banfora

Banfora has many schools for young people. There are 19 primary schools where younger children learn. For older students, there are two high schools and four private colleges. The city also has a special school called the College of Sainte Thérèse.

Healthcare in Banfora

The city provides healthcare services for its residents. There is a regional hospital, which is called a CHR. There is also a special unit for mothers and babies, called a maternal and infant protection unit. You can find three pharmacies in Banfora to get medicines. Besides modern medicine, traditional healing methods are also used. There is even a center dedicated to traditional therapies.

People of Banfora

The main groups of people living in Banfora are the Gouin, the Karaboro, and the Turka. When people from different groups need to talk to each other, they often use two main languages. These are the Dioula language and the French language.

Banfora's Climate

Banfora has a tropical wet and dry climate. This type of climate is also known as "Aw" in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system. It means the city has a hot season with a lot of rain and a cooler, drier season.

See also

In Spanish: Banfora para niños