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, 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 Naaba Kango or Naba Kango (died 1787) is known as the greatest of the rulers of Yatenga, an early modern kingdom in present-day Burkina Faso. In the first half of the 18th century, Yatenga had experienced a rapid succession of about a dozen rules ...

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 Gurma (also called Gourma or Gourmantché) is an ethnic group living mainly in northeastern Ghana, Burkina Faso, around Fada N'Gourma, and also in northern areas of Togo and Benin, as well as southwestern Niger. They number approximately 1,750 ...

by invaders from neighbouring

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in Ghana–Ivory Coast border, the west, Burkina ...

. 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 Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

in the 19th century,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

brokered a deal making Yatenga a French protectorate. Following the annexation of the other Mossi states, the area was governed as

Upper Volta Upper Volta (now named Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 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 ...

until the nation's independence on August 5, 1960.

Education

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

Healthcare

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

Culture

The Yatenga region is renowned for its unique style of Mossi

mask A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment and often they have been employed for rituals and rights. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and pra ...

s. 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''.

Departments

Yatenga is divided into 13 departments: *

Barga Department Barga is a department or commune of Yatenga Province in Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to the northwes ...

Kaïn Department Kain is a Departments of Burkina Faso, department or commune of Yatenga Province in northern Burkina Faso. Its capital lies at the town of Kain, Burkina Faso, Kain.Kalsaka Department Kalsaka is a department or commune of Yatenga Province in northern Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (, ; , ff, 𞤄𞤵𞤪𞤳𞤭𞤲𞤢 𞤊𞤢𞤧𞤮, italic=no) is a landlocked country in West Africa with an area of , bordered by Mali to th ...

* Koumbri Department * Kossouka Department * Namissiguima Department * Ouahigouya Department * Oula Department * Rambo Department * Séguénéga Department * Tangaye Department * Thiou Department * Zogoré Department

References

{{Coord, 13, 35, N, 2, 25, W, region:BF_type:adm1st, display=title Provinces of Burkina Faso