Bouaké

Bouaké sits at the centre of the country and works as its inland trading hub, with one of the largest markets in West Africa spreading across several quarters and selling everything from cloth to livestock. It is a Baoulé city with a substantial northern population, and the mix shows in the food and the markets. The Carnaval de Bouaké each March fills the streets with parades, masks and music and is generally counted the biggest event of its kind in the country.

Background

With 740,000 people at the 2021 census, Bouaké ranks as the second-largest city in Ivory Coast, and it is the seat of the Vallée du Bandama District, the Gbêkê Region and Bouaké Department. It stands at 312 m, about 50 kilometres from Lake Kossou, the largest lake in the country. Baoulé people settled here in the 1800s, and the first village was called Gbèkèkro, after the Baoulé leader Gossan Kwa Gbeke, kro meaning town. One account takes the name Bouaké from the Baoulé words "Boua", sheep, and "Ké", dry. The town has been an administrative center since 1914 and grew from 3,600 people in 1921 to 461,618 in 1998.

Source: Wikipedia, "Bouaké"

Highlights

• The grand market - one of the largest inland markets in West Africa.
• The carnival - the March street parades, generally counted the country's largest.
• The cloth trade - printed and woven textiles sold across several quarters.
• The railway - the line north from Abidjan running through the city.

When to go

November to February is the dry season and the most comfortable. The carnival is usually in March. The rains from June to October are heavy in the centre.

What to expect

There is little formal sightseeing; the market and the street life are the visit. Accommodation is limited and fills at carnival time. The city is spread out and getting between quarters takes transport.

Nearby

Katiola is north, and Yamoussoukro is south.

Key facts