Ouagadougou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ouagadougou
Capital city
From top: Ouagadougou skyline, statue of Joanny Thévenoud in front of Ouagadougou Cathedral, Grand Mosque, National Assembly of Burkina Faso, Hall of Martyrs (formerly the Memorial to National Heroes),
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Ouaga
Ouagadougou Location in Burkina Faso Show map of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou Location in Africa Show map of Africa
Country	Burkina Faso
Region	Centre Region
Province	Kadiogo
Area
• Capital city	520 km2 (200 sq mi)
• Metro	2,805 km2 (1,083 sq mi)
Elevation	305 m (1,001 ft)
Population  (2019)
• Capital city	2,415,266
• Density	4,640/km2 (12,030/sq mi)
• Urban	3,063,271
• Metro	3,358,934
• Metro density	1,197.48/km2 (3,101.5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+00:00 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)	(Not Observed)
Area code(s)	+226
Climate	BSh

Ouagadougou (pronounced wah-gah-DOO-goo) is the capital city of Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa. It's the biggest city in the country, with over 2.4 million people living there in 2019. People often shorten its name to Ouaga. The people who live there are called ouagalais.

Ouagadougou is a very important city for Burkina Faso. It's the main center for government, communication, culture, and business. The city is known for its food processing and textile industries. It has an international airport and train links to other cities like Abidjan in the Ivory Coast. You can also find one of West Africa's largest markets here, which has been rebuilt and improved since a fire in 2003. Other cool places to visit include the National Museum of Burkina Faso and various craft markets.

History of Ouagadougou

Europe, Africa and the Near East in 1200, showing the Kingdom of Wagadugu (in West Africa).

Ouagadougou was first settled around the 11th century. It was originally called Kumbee-Tenga, which means "the land of princes." In the 15th century, a hero named Wubri led his tribe to victory and renamed the area. The new name was "Wage sabre soba koumbem tenga," meaning "head war chief's village." This name later became "Wagadugu," and the French spelling we use today is Ouagadougou.

Another idea about the name's origin is that the city was founded by people from the Soninke group. They came after the fall of the Ghana Empire, which was also known as Wagadu. So, "Wagadugu" could mean 'home of the Wagu,' referring to the Soninke group that ruled Ghana.

Monument of National Heroes

Ouagadougou became the capital of the Mossi Empire in 1441. In 1681, it became the permanent home of the Mossi emperors, called the Moro-Naba. Even today, the Moro-Naba Ceremony is performed every Friday by the Moro-Naba and his court.

In 1919, the French made Ouagadougou the capital of the Upper Volta territory, which is now Burkina Faso. The city grew a lot after a railroad line from the Ivory Coast reached it in 1954. Ouagadougou's population has been doubling about every ten years since then!

Geography and Climate

Ouagadougou is located on a central plateau. It grew around the imperial palace of the Mogho Naaba. After Burkina Faso became independent, the city became an important urban center.

Ouagadougou's Climate

Ouagadougou has a hot, semi-dry climate. This means it's usually warm with a distinct rainy season. The city gets about 800 millimeters (31 inches) of rain each year.

• The rainy season is from May to September. The average temperature during this time is around 28°C (82°F).
• The cool season runs from October to February, with an average low temperature of 16°C (61°F).
• The hot season is from March to April, and temperatures can reach up to 43°C (109°F)!

The climate is mainly affected by a dry wind called the harmattan and the West African Monsoon.

Education and Languages

Even though not everyone in Ouagadougou can read and write, the city has three universities. The biggest one is the state University of Ouagadougou, founded in 1974. In 2010, it had about 40,000 students.

The main language used in the city is French. However, many local languages are also spoken, such as More, Dyula, and Fulfulde. Schools started a program in 1994 to teach in both French and one of the local languages.

There are also international schools in Ouagadougou:

• Lycée Saint-Exupéry de Ouagadougou (a French school)
• International School of Ouagadougou

Sports and Fun

People in Ouagadougou enjoy many sports, including football (soccer), basketball, and volleyball. Local groups often organize tournaments and activities. The Stade du 4-Août is the home stadium for Étoile Filante de Ouagadougou, the city's main football team.

Getting Around Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou International Airport

Ouagadougou train station

Many people in Ouagadougou get around on motorcycles and mopeds. A big company called JC Megamonde sells about 50,000 motorbikes every year!

You can also travel by green cabs. These taxis can take you anywhere in the city for a small fee, usually between 200 and 400 CFA. After 10:00 pm, the price might go up to 1000 CFA.

Air Travel

The Thomas Sankara International Airport Ouagadougou connects the city with flights to other parts of West Africa and Europe. Air Burkina, a local airline, has its main office in Ouagadougou.

Train Travel

Ouagadougou has passenger train service to cities like Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou, and even to the Ivory Coast. A company called Sitarail runs a passenger train three times a week between Ouagadougou and Abidjan. There are also trains that carry goods to Kaya in the north of Burkina Faso.

City Economy

Ouagadougou's busy city centre

Ouagadougou's economy is based on industry and trade. Many factories and processing plants have moved to Ouagadougou, making it an important industrial hub for Burkina Faso. People often move from the countryside to the city to find jobs in these industries.

Ouagadougou is also a major trading center. Goods are brought into the city and then sent out to rural areas. Because so many people live there, the city needs a lot of energy, building materials, food, and animal products.

Much of the city's economy is made up of small businesses and workers who might not have regular salaries. Traditional markets and shops along major roads are very common. However, there are also modern businesses with trained workers and more traditional family-run businesses.

• Informal trade
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The service industry is also a big part of the economy. This includes things like communications, banking, transportation, restaurants, hotels, and government jobs.

Sister Cities

Ouagadougou has "sister city" relationships with several cities around the world. This means they share cultural and economic ties. Some of these cities include:

Parks and Green Spaces

Ouagadougou has some lovely parks.

• The Bangr-Weoogo urban park is a large green area. Before colonial times, it was a sacred forest for the Mossi chiefs. People would go there for special ceremonies or to find safety. The French colonists turned it into a park in the 1930s. In 2001, it was renamed "Parc Urbain Bangr-Weoogo," which means "the urban park of the forest of knowledge."

• Another interesting park is "L'Unité Pédagogique." It's a botanic garden and a museum about the country's history. You can even see animals living in a semi-wild state there.

• The "Jardin de l'amitié Ouaga-Loudun" (Garden of Ouaga-Loudun Friendship) is a green space that shows the friendship between Ouagadougou and Loudun, a city in France. It's located in the city center.

Culture and Arts

The Maison du Peuple

Ouagadougou is a vibrant cultural hub with many places for arts and performances, like the Maison du Peuple. You can hear all kinds of music here, from traditional folk to modern rap.

A local travelling by camel.

• The National Museum of Music displays all the musical instruments from Burkina Faso.
• The Musée de Manega, located about 55 kilometers (34 miles) northwest of the city, also shows musical instruments, Mossi rifles, and other cultural items.
• "Naba Koom" is a 6-meter (20 ft) tall statue of a woman pouring water from a calabash. It stands near the railway station, welcoming visitors to Ouaga.
• "Laongo," about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the city, features huge granite slabs carved by different sculptors from five continents.
• "La Place du Grand Lyon" is a monument that represents the connection between Ouagadougou and Lyon, France. It has a large lion statue.
• The "Parc Animalier de Ziniaré" is a zoo located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the city.

Festivals and Crafts

Ouagadougou hosts many international festivals and events:

• FESPACO (Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou) is Africa's biggest film festival.
• SIAO (International Art and Craft Fair) showcases amazing art and crafts.
• FESPAM (Pan-African Music Festival) celebrates music from across Africa.
• FITMO (International Theatre and Marionnette Festival) features theater and puppet shows.

Places to Worship

Ouagadougou Grand Mosque

The most common places of worship in Ouagadougou are Muslim mosques. There are also many Christian churches, including Catholic churches, Reformed Evangelical churches, Assemblies of God, and others.

Notable People from Ouagadougou

• Malika Ouattara – a slam poet and activist
• Dango Ouattara – a footballer
• Serge Oulon – a journalist
• Hugues Fabrice Zango – a triple jumper

Images for kids

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  Street vendors with their goods

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  A street vendor carrying his items

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  A woman selling goods on the streets of Ouagadougou

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  A street vendor in Ouagadougou

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  Another street vendor in Ouagadougou

See also

In Spanish: Uagadugú para niños