Banfora is a city in south western
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳ðž¤ðž¤²ðž¤¢ 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana t ...
, with a population of 117,452 (2019 census)
[ making it the sixth most populous city in Burkina Faso. It is the capital of the Comoe province. The city lies south-west of ]Bobo-Dioulasso
Bobo-Dioulasso is a city in Burkina Faso with a population of 904,920 (); it is the second-largest city in the country, after Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital. The name means "home of the Bobo-Dioula".
The local Bobo-speaking population (re ...
, on the Abidjan – Ouagadougou Railway. The Cascades de Karfiguéla are a series of waterfalls close to Banfora.
History
The first settlers were the Karaboro who with the Gouin and Turkas constitute the city's main ethnic groups. They are all from the south of Burkina Faso.
In 1903 the French colonialist forces created a military post at Banfora and one year later created an administrative position there. In 1905 a road was built linking Banfora to Bobo-Dioulasso
Bobo-Dioulasso is a city in Burkina Faso with a population of 904,920 (); it is the second-largest city in the country, after Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital. The name means "home of the Bobo-Dioula".
The local Bobo-speaking population (re ...
and in 1931 a railway was built to the town.
Economy
The economy has grown around the sugar cane
Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus '' Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalk ...
industry. The city is also an important market town and there are hotels which support a small tourism industry linked to the Cascades de Karfiguéla.
Transportation
The city has a railroad station along the Abidjan – Ouagadougou Railway. As of June 2014 ''Sitarail'' operated a passenger train along the line three times a week in each direction.[European Rail Timetable, Summer 2014 Edition, (journey time is 43 to 48 hours)] It is a way station for transport to and from Côte d'Ivoire as it is the last city in Burkina Faso before the border. The paved road from Bobo-Dioulasso continues to the border and cargo will often stop at Niangoloko before reaching customs.
Education
Banfora has 19 primary schools, two high schools, four private colleges and the College of Sainte Thérèse.
Healthcare
The city has a regional hospital (CHR), a maternal and infant protection unit and three pharmacies. Traditional medicine is also practiced and there is a center for traditional therapies.
Demographics
The main ethnic groups are the Gouin, the Karaboro and the Turka. The most commonly used languages for communication between people of different ethnicities living in Banfora are Dioula and French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
.
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as tropical wet and dry (Aw).
References
{{Authority control
Populated places in the Cascades Region