Bobo-Dioulasso: Burkina Faso's city of music

Why Bobo is special

Bobo, as it is known, grew from a Bobo village into a trading town on routes linking the forest coast and the Sahel, and later became a colonial railway hub on the line from Abidjan. That mix of peoples, Bobo, Dioula, Peul, Mossi and many more, gives the city its open character. Mango and kapok trees line the avenues, the colonial-era railway station still stands as a landmark, and music drifts out of courtyards most evenings.

The Grand Mosque and Kibidwé

The **Grand Mosque of Dioulassoba**, built in the late 19th century, is the city's icon: a mud-brick building bristling with wooden beams that serve as permanent scaffolding for the yearly replastering. Behind it lies **Kibidwé**, the oldest quarter, a maze of earthen houses divided into Muslim and animist areas, with a sacred stream full of catfish that residents protect. Local guides from the neighbourhood association lead visitors through and explain the customs; go with one and follow their lead on photographs.

Markets and crafts

The **Grand Marché** in the city centre sells cloth, spices, shea butter, baskets and the region's famous mangoes in season. Bobo is a centre for **bogolan** (mud cloth) and woven cotton, and there are workshops where you can watch dyers and weavers. The **Musée Communal Sogossira Sanon** and the **Maison de la Culture** host exhibitions and shows about the city's traditions.

Music and dance

Bobo is the home of many of Burkina's best balafon and djembe players, and families of griots keep traditions alive. In normal times, cultural centres, bars and festivals such as the **Semaine Nationale de la Culture** (SNC), held every other year, filled the city with performances. Ask your hosts what is on during your stay; small evening concerts in courtyards and maquis are often the highlight of a visit.

Food

The local speciality is **tô** with sauces of okra, sorrel or baobab leaves, and Bobo is known for grilled meat, **soumbala** seasoned sauces and excellent fruit. Mango season, roughly April to June, is a joy. Local dolo, a millet beer brewed by women in neighbourhood cabarets, is part of social life in some quarters.

Day trips and nature

Around Bobo, travellers used to visit the **Mare aux Poissons Sacrés** at Dafra, a sacred pool reached by a rocky walk, the **Koro** hill village and the hippos of **Lac de Tengréla** near Banfora. Current advice for areas outside the city is strict, so check before going anywhere beyond the city limits and only travel with people who know the local situation.

Where to stay

Bobo has a handful of mid-range hotels and guesthouses in the centre and quieter residential areas, some with pools and gardens. Choose places with guards, generators and secure parking, and ask your host to arrange taxis for evening outings.

Safety and getting there

The road from Ouagadougou to Bobo-Dioulasso has seen security incidents, and the wider region includes areas where governments advise against all travel. Flights between the two cities run only occasionally, so check schedules with the airline. Read your government's current advice, travel by day and keep a low profile. For help shaping a realistic plan, use our free trip planner, and browse places to visit for food and culture ideas.