Bonconto Commune is a

rural community In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are describ ...

Bonconto Arrondissement Bonconto Arrondissement is an arrondissement of the Vélingara Department in the Kolda Region of Senegal. It is also spelled Bonkonto. Subdivisions The arrondissement is divided administratively into rural communities and in turn into villages. ...

in the

Vélingara Department Vélingara Department is one of the 46 departments of Senegal, one of the three making up the Kolda Region in the Upper Casamance. Administration The department has three communes: Vélingara (the capital town), Kounkané and Diaobé-Kabendo ...

Kolda Region Kolda is a region of Senegal (regional capitals have the same name as their respective regions). The region is also referred to historically and popularly as Haute Casamance. It's one of the 14 regions of the country and is located in the South ...

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

. It is also spelled Bonkonto. The commune is known as a major center of

Shia Islam in Senegal Shia Islam in Senegal is practiced small number of Senegalese people, as well as by the Lebanese community in Senegal. Background According to historian Alioune Badiane, Shia Islam has been present in Senegal for many centuries, and can be traced ...

and is home to the Al Hassanayni Grand Mosque of

Darou Hidjiratou Darou Hidjiratou (also spelled Darou Hijratou or Darou Idjiratou) is a village and zone in Bonconto Commune, Bonconto Arrondissement, Vélingara Department of Kolda Region in south Senegal. As a major center of Shia Islam in Senegal, it is home ...

, the largest mosque in the commune.

is significant as the birthplace of a prominent Shi'i Muslim family in

, which includes the village leader

Cherif Habib Aidara Darou Hidjiratou (also spelled Darou Hijratou or Darou Idjiratou) is a village and zone in Bonconto Commune, Bonconto Arrondissement, Vélingara Department of Kolda Region in south Senegal. As a major center of Shia Islam in Senegal, it is home to ...

(Chérif Habibou Aïdara) and his brother

Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara Cherif Mohamed Aly Aidara is a Senegalese-Mauritanian Shia religious leader who is known for his work on international development in West Africa. He is one of the primary Shia religious figures in Senegal and West Africa. Early life and family ...

, founder of the international NGO

Mozdahir Mozdahir (also known as the ''Mozdahir International Institute''; French name: Institut Mozdahir International or IMI) is an international non-governmental organization based in Dakar, Senegal. Overview It has branches in different African countr ...

Demographics

Demographics of Bonconto Rural Community: *9,688 persons (year 2010) *5,416 (year 1988) 9 ethnic groups were counted in 2010, with

Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...

making up most of the population. *Peul (

) (73%) * Manding (8%) *

Bassari The Bassari are people who live in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. The total population is between 10,000 and 30,000. Most of the Bassari are concentrated on either side of the Senegal-Guinea border southwest of Kedougou, Kédougou R ...

(6%) * Bambara (4%) *Remaining ethnic groups: Koniagui,

Diola The Jola or Diola (endonym: Ajamat) are an ethnic group found in Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. Most Jola live in small villages scattered throughout Senegal, especially in the Lower Casamance region. The main dialect of the Jola langu ...

, Mandiack, Diankhanké, Koroboro

Zones and villages

Zones and villages in Bonconto Commune:

Notable people

is significant as the birthplace of a prominent Shi'i Muslim family in

, including: *Chérif Habibou Aïdara, the local mayor *

, founder of the international NGO

(brother of Chérif Habibou Aïdara)

References

{{Reflist Kolda Region Communes of Senegal