Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Gaoua
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
{{Infobox settlement <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> |name = Gaoua <!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in --> |official_name = |other_name = |native_name = <!-- if different from the English name --> |nickname = |settlement_type = <!--such as Town, Village, City, Borough etc.--> |total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> |motto = |image_skyline = Market Scene - Gaoua - Burkina Faso.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Market Scene in Gaoua |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map =Burkina Faso |pushpin_label_position =top |pushpin_map_caption =Location within Burkina Faso, [[French West Africa]] |pushpin_mapsize =300 |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{BFA}} |subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Burkina Faso|Region]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Sud-Ouest Region (Burkina Faso)|Sud-Ouest Region]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Burkina Faso|Province]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Poni Province]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Departments of Burkina Faso|Department]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Gaoua Department]] |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = <!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government --> |seat_type = |seat = |parts_type = |parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format) Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--> |parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list --> |p1 = |p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed--> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = <!-- Settled --> |established_date = |established_title1 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> |established_date1 = |established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> |established_date2 = |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |founder = |named_for = |area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink --> |unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric--> |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = <!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_total_dunam = <!--Used in Middle East articles only--> |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 339 |elevation_ft = |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft = |population_as_of =2019 census |population_footnotes = <ref name=pop>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/burkinafaso/cities/ Citypopulation.de] Population of cities & localities in Burkina Faso</ref> |population_note = |population_total = 45284 |population_density_km2 = <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto --> |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] |utc_offset = +0 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = | coor_type = <!-- can be used to specify what the coordinates refer to --> |coordinates = {{coord|10|19|N|3|10|W|region:BF|display=inline}} |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |area_code = |twin1 = |twin1_country = |twin2 = |twin2_country = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |blank2_name = |blank2_info = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Gaoua''' is a [[market town]] in southern [[Burkina Faso]] known for its superstitious values and customs.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} The population, rested at 45,284. (2019 census) <ref name=pop/> Located in the red earth, green hills, and fast flowing streams of southwestern Burkina Faso, Gaoua is the capital of [[Poni Province]] and forms a sort of capital for the sacred rites and bush lore of the [[Lobi people|Lobi]] peoples. According to local myth, Gaoua was founded when the Lobi migrated across from northern [[Ghana]] where they found the [[Gan people (West Africa)|Gan people]] occupying the territory. As a result, they named the trek across to Gaoua ''Gan-houo'' meaning "route of the Gan people".<ref>Manson, K., Knight, J. (2006), ''Burkina Faso'', p.226, Bradt Travel Guides, The Globe Pequot Press Inc., Retrieved on June 17, 2008</ref> {{multiple image |image1 = 2016.05-441-104ap Musée du Poni@Gaoua(Poni Prv.),BF sun15may2016-0847h.jpg |image2 = 2016.05-441-102ap Musée du Poni@Gaoua(Poni Prv.),BF sun15may2016-0845h.jpg |footer = Entrance (left) and front (right) of the ''Musée du Poni'' (May 2016) |total_width = 400 }} Attractions in the town include a [[sacred grove]] of trees, the [[Poni Museum]] (''Musée des Civilisations des Peuples du Sud-Ouest'' or ''Musée du Poni'') and [[cave]]s. There is also a [[mosque]] on elevated ground near the centre. The Gaoua Catholic parish Church of the Sacred Heart will be the cathedral for the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Gaoua.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120723004348/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/28470.php?index=28470&lang=en]</ref> ==Lobi Goldfields== Though their ancient home was considered to be [[Takyiman]] in Ghana, the Lobi migrated across the [[Mouhoun River]] as a result of the Dagomba Wars in the 1770s. Thirty years later, the Lobi displaced the [[Ga-Adangbe people|Gan]] at Gaoua. The French occupied southwest Burkina Faso in 1879, based on the region's reputation for gold, dating back to the era of [[Mossi people|Mossi]] and [[Dyula people|Dyula]] gold traders. Although primarily farmers, the Lobi did partake of [[gold panning]] around Gaoua, besides Gaoua being on a trade route to the [[Poura]] gold mines further north.<ref>{{cite thesis|last=Gundlach |first=Cory |title=The river and the shrine: Lobi art and sense of place |degree=MA |publisher=University of Iowa |url=https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.a95cyuqx |accessdate=8 November 2018 |pages=56,64–65,98,131 |date=2012|doi=10.17077/etd.a95cyuqx |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Wright |first1=J.B. |last2=Hastings |first2=D.A. |last3=Jones |first3=W.B. |last4=Williams |first4=H.R. |editor1-last=Wright |editor1-first=J.B. |title=Geology and Mineral Resources of West Africa |date=1985 |publisher=George Allen & UNWIN |location=London |isbn=9780045560011 |pages=45–47 |ref=gold}}</ref> ==Climate== Gaoua has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Aw''), typical of [[Sudan (region)|the Sudan region]] of West Africa. The weather is hot year-round, and sweltering in the period before the rainy season begins from February to May. In the rainy season itself temperatures are less extreme due to increased cloud cover, but high humidity means this period is no less uncomfortable. At the height of the dry season in December and January temperatures remain hot to sweltering by afternoon, but humidity is at its lowest and mornings fall to pleasant temperatures. {{Weather box | width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Gaoua (1991–2020) | Jan record high C = 40.0 | Feb record high C = 42.2 | Mar record high C = 42.6 | Apr record high C = 42.0 | May record high C = 40.1 | Jun record high C = 38.9 | Jul record high C = 36.0 | Aug record high C = 34.8 | Sep record high C = 36.2 | Oct record high C = 37.5 | Nov record high C = 39.0 | Dec record high C = 38.4 | year record high C = | Jan high C = 34.5 | Feb high C = 36.8 | Mar high C = 38.1 | Apr high C = 36.8 | May high C = 34.9 | Jun high C = 32.5 | Jul high C = 30.8 | Aug high C = 30.0 | Sep high C = 31.2 | Oct high C = 33.8 | Nov high C = 35.7 | Dec high C = 35.0 | year high C = 34.2 | Jan mean C = 25.5 | Feb mean C = 28.4 | Mar mean C = 30.8 | Apr mean C = 30.6 | May mean C = 29.3 | Jun mean C = 27.6 | Jul mean C = 26.2 | Aug mean C = 25.6 | Sep mean C = 26.0 | Oct mean C = 27.1 | Nov mean C = 26.9 | Dec mean C = 25.4 | year mean C = 27.4 | Jan low C = 16.3 | Feb low C = 19.8 | Mar low C = 24.0 | Apr low C = 25.5 | May low C = 24.7 | Jun low C = 23.4 | Jul low C = 22.7 | Aug low C = 22.3 | Sep low C = 22.2 | Oct low C = 22.2 | Nov low C = 19.5 | Dec low C = 16.1 | year low C = 21.6 | Jan record low C = 10.6 | Feb record low C = 12.6 | Mar record low C = 15.5 | Apr record low C = 18.4 | May record low C = 17.0 | Jun record low C = 17.9 | Jul record low C = 18.1 | Aug record low C = 16.0 | Sep record low C = 16.2 | Oct record low C = 15.5 | Nov record low C = 12.1 | Dec record low C = 9.5 | year record low C = 9.5 | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 2.6 | Feb rain mm = 9.4 | Mar rain mm = 28.8 | Apr rain mm = 79.8 | May rain mm = 122.9 | Jun rain mm = 134.3 | Jul rain mm = 186.1 | Aug rain mm = 235.9 | Sep rain mm = 191.7 | Oct rain mm = 92.5 | Nov rain mm = 13.4 | Dec rain mm = 0.1 | year rain mm = 1097.5 | unit rain days = 1.0 mm | Jan rain days = 0.1 | Feb rain days = 0.7 | Mar rain days = 2.1 | Apr rain days = 5.1 | May rain days = 8.1 | Jun rain days = 9.2 | Jul rain days = 11.2 | Aug rain days = 13.2 | Sep rain days = 14.0 | Oct rain days = 7.9 | Nov rain days = 1.1 | Dec rain days = 0.1 | year rain days = 72.8 | Jan sun = 271.1 | Feb sun = 242.9 | Mar sun = 246.4 | Apr sun = 235.8 | May sun = 252.7 | Jun sun = 234.6 | Jul sun = 206.0 | Aug sun = 171.9 | Sep sun = 194.1 | Oct sun = 253.0 | Nov sun = 268.8 | Dec sun = 278.8 | year sun = 2856.1 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web |url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/BurkinaFaso/CSV/GAOUA_65522.csv |title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Gaoua |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = January 4, 2024}}</ref> }} {{Coord|10|19|N|3|10|W|display=title}} ==See also== *[[Birimian]] *[[Geology of Burkina Faso]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{wikivoyage-inline|Gaoua}} [[File:The Mali Empire.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Mali Empire]] in 1337, including the location of the [[Bambouk|Bambuk]], [[Siguiri|Bure]], Lobi and [[Tarkwa|Akan]] Goldfields]] {{Poni}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Populated places in the Sud-Ouest Region (Burkina Faso)]] [[Category:Sacred groves]] [[Category:Wangara trade towns]]
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page
(
help
)
:
Template:Authority control
(
edit
)
Template:Citation needed
(
edit
)
Template:Cite book
(
edit
)
Template:Cite thesis
(
edit
)
Template:Coord
(
edit
)
Template:Infobox settlement
(
edit
)
Template:Multiple image
(
edit
)
Template:Poni
(
edit
)
Template:Reflist
(
edit
)
Template:Weather box
(
edit
)
Template:Wikivoyage-inline
(
edit
)