Yatenga Province

Yatenga is one of the provinces of Burkina Faso, located in the Nord Region of the country. In modern Yatenga, the most prominent city is Ouahigouya (also known as Waiguya). This city served as the capital of the kingdom of Yatenga,[2] a powerful kingdom out of the many Mossi kingdoms, but its influence decreased in the century following French colonisation. The city is famed today for being home to the Naba's (traditional kings) compound and the tomb of Naba Kango.

Yatenga
Province
Location in Burkina Faso
Location in Burkina Faso
Provincial map of its departments
Provincial map of its departments
Country Burkina Faso
RegionNord Region
CapitalOuahigouya
Area
 • Province6,987 km2 (2,698 sq mi)
Population
 (2019 census)[1]
 • Province824,994
 • Density120/km2 (310/sq mi)
 • Urban
124,587
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT 0)

History

Kingdom of Yatenga

Yatenge was historically a powerful kingdom in the region. It was founded as a Mossi state along with Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, and Gourma by invaders from neighbouring Ghana. Each of the Mossi states (including Yatenga) possessed a strong military that was able to repel attacks from hostile tribes and nations.

When the European powers began their scramble for territory in Africa in the 19th century, France brokered a deal making Yatenga a French protectorate. Following the annexation of the other Mossi states, the area was governed as Upper Volta until the nation's independence on August 5, 1960.

In the modern day, the Kingdom of Yatenga continues on as a traditional monarchy within Burkina Faso.[3]

Modern history

On 5 September 2023, seventeen Burkinabé soldiers, thirty-six VDP militiamen, and several dozen Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin militants are killed during fighting in the Province.[4]

Education

In 2011 the province had 588 primary schools and 57 secondary schools.[5]

Healthcare

In 2011 the province had 60 health and social promotion centres (Centres de santé et de promotion sociale), 20 doctors and 207 nurses.[6]

Culture

The Yatenga region is renowned for its unique style of Mossi masks. They are tall, vertically oriented, and concave-faced. They are considered to be some of the best examples of Mossi art available today.

A prominent dance of the Yatenga region is the liwaga.[7][8]

Departments

Yatenga is divided into 13 departments:

See also

References
  1. Citypopulation.de Population of provinces in Nord Region
  2. Trillo, Richard (2008-06-02). "Ouahigouya and the Yatenga state". The Rough Guide to West Africa. Rough Guides Limited. ISBN 9781405380683.
  3. SAGBE, Willy (2022-01-02). "Ici Au Faso : Naaba Kiiba à propos de l'origine de Ouahigouya". Burkina24.com - Actualité du Burkina Faso 24h/24 (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  4. "More than 50 security forces killed by jihadis in Burkina Faso, as violence inches closer to capital". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  5. "La région du Nord en chiffres" (PDF). Institut National de la Statistique et de la Démographie (INSD). 2011. p. 6.
  6. "La région du Nord en chiffres" (PDF). Institut National de la Statistique et de la Démographie (INSD). 2011. p. 6.
  7. "Conseil International de Solidarité avec le Burkina-Faso". www.cisab.org. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  8. "NAABA KANGO (Danse traditionnelle Liwaga) | Lafi Bala". www.lafibala.com (in French). Retrieved 2017-03-10.

13°35′N 2°25′W

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