Kibidwe Old Quarter
The oldest quarter of Bobo-Dioulasso, of mud-brick lanes beside the great mosque.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Kibidwe, also written Dioulassoba, is the oldest part of Bobo-Dioulasso, a warren of earth-built houses and narrow lanes beside the grand mosque of 1880, which was built in the Sudanese style with projecting timber torons and conical buttresses. The quarter is divided between founding families with distinct roles, and guides from it take visitors through the lanes, the smiths' area and down to the stream at its edge.
What you actually see
- The grand mosque - the 1880 Sudanese-style building with its torons and buttresses.
- The earth-built lanes - the narrow streets of the oldest quarter.
- The founding families - the divisions of the quarter and their roles.
- The smiths' area - the metalworking ground within the quarter.
When to go
November to February is the cool dry season. Visits should avoid prayer times at the mosque. March to May is extremely hot.
Honest expectations
Non-Muslims are generally not admitted inside the mosque. A guide from the quarter is expected and fees are negotiated. The lanes are lived-in and photography of people needs asking.
Nearby
Bobo-Dioulasso's centre is around it, and Koro is southeast.
What to pack for Kibidwe Old Quarter
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.