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BURKINABE Facts & Figures

Size: 105,869 square miles

Population: 15,746,232

Currency: West African Franc

Weather / Climate:

Burkina Fasohas a primarily tropical climate with two very distinct seasons. In the rainy season, the country receives between 600 and 900 millimeters (23.6 and 35.4 in) of rainfall; in the dry season, the harmattan – a hot dry wind from the Sahara – blows. The rainy season lasts approximately four months, May/June to September, and is shorter in the north of the country. Three climatic zones can be defined: the Sahel, the Sudan-Sahel, and the Sudan-Guinea. The Sahel in the north typically receives less than 600 millimeters (23.6 in)^[15] of rainfall per year and has high temperatures, 5–47 degrees Celsius (41–116.6 °F).

A relatively dry tropical savanna, the Sahel extends beyond the borders of Burkina Faso, from the Horn of Africa to the Atlantic Ocean, and borders the Sahara to its north and the fertile region of the Sudan to the South. Situated between 11°3' and 13°5' north latitude, the Sudan-Sahel region is a transitional zone with regards to rainfall and temperature. Further to the south, the Sudan-Guinea zone receives more than 900 millimeters (35.4 in)^[15] of rain each year and has cooler average temperatures.

Burkina Faso's natural resources include manganese, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt and small deposits of gold.

Burkina Faso's fauna and flora are protected in two national parks and several reserves: see List of national parks in Africa, Nature reserves of Burkina Faso.

Taken from:www.wikipedia.com

BURKINABE languages

The official language of Burkina Faso is French. In addition, there are about 60 native African languages of which Mossi (Mòoré), Fula (Fulfulde, Pulaar, Pular) and Dioula (Julakan) are the three main ones.

French is the principal language of administrative, political and judicial institutions, public services, written press, ... It is the only language for laws, administration and courts.

80% of the Burkinabé live in rural areas where there is little contact between different communities. As a result, monolingualism is predominant.

Taken From:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Burkina_Faso

BURKINABE culture

A poor country even by West African standards, landlocked Burkina Faso has suffered from recurring droughts, matched in number only by the military coups it has endured, especially during the 1980s. Burkina Faso has significant reserves of gold, but cotton production is the economic mainstay for many Burkinabes. The industry is vulnerable to changes in world prices.

Burkina Fasowas once a part of the Great Mossi Empire, one of the strongest of ancient African kingdoms. The Mossi kingdom was established by invaders from the south, who displaced the Bobo, Lobi and Gurunsi tribes that occupied the region at the time. The region itself is in the path of several historic migrations of population. The Mossi Empire was still in place when the whole region was annexed by the French in 1896. After a period as part of the colony of Upper Senegal-Niger, the territory was reorganised as the separate colony of Upper Volta in 1919. It was then carved up between Côte d'Ivoire, Niger and 'French Sudan' in 1932, only to be reconstituted as an independent entity in 1947, as an 'Overseas Territory' of France.

Formerly Upper Volta, Burkina Faso has spent many of its post-independence years under military rule. After taking power in a 1983 coup, Thomas Sankara adopted a policy of nonalignment, developed relations with Libya and Ghana, and gave the country its present name, which translates as "land of honest men". In 1987 Mr Sankara was overthrown and then executed in a coup masterminded by Blaise Compaore, who has since instituted a multi-party system.

Burkina Fasohas faced domestic and external concern over the state of its economy and human rights, and allegations that it was involved in the smuggling of diamonds by rebels in Sierra Leone. Troubles in neighbouring Ivory Coast have raised tensions. Ivory Coast has accused Burkina Faso of backing rebels in its north, a claim denied by Ouagadougou, which accuses its neighbour of mistreating Burkinabes living in Ivory Coast.

The government is investing in tourism and measures have been taken to increase the accommodation available in the country and to make tourist destinations more attractive. Wildlife is a key element of this objective in the eastern part of the country while the central part around Ouagadougou concentrates on business tourism. The west focuses on cultural tourism, the north on the discovery of nomadic populations and traditions.

More than 40% of population follows animist beliefs; 50% are Muslim and 10% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic). Women are always expected to dress modestly since this is a Muslim country. Within the urban areas, many French customs prevail. Dress should be casual and appropriate for hot weather (yet short skirts and shorts are best avoided). Lounge suits for men and formal wear for women are required for evening entertainment. Burkina Faso is a fascinating country because of its diversity: over 60 ethnic groups dwell in this country, proud to be Burkinabé, and yet keen to preserve their own social and cultural idiosyncrasies. Outside the cities, little has changed for centuries and visitors should respect local customs and traditions.

Holidays

· 01 January – New Year's Day

· 03 January – Anniversary of the 1966 Coup d’Etat

· February – Mouloud, Birth of the Prophet

· 08 March – Women’s Day

· April – Easter Monday

· 01 May – Labour Day

· May/June – Ascension

· 04 August – Revolution Day

· 05 August – Independence Day

· 15 August – Assumption

· August – Aid El Segheir, End of Ramadan

· 15 October – Anniversary of the 1987 Coup d’Etat

· 01 November – All Saints’ Day

· November – Aid El Kebir, Feast of the Sacrifice

· November – El Am Hejir, New Year

· 11 December – Proclamation of the Republic

· 25 December – Christmas Day

Taken from:

www.bbc.co.uk

www.worldtravelguide.net

BURKINABE people

Burkina Faso's 15.3 million people belong to two major West African cultural groups—the Voltaic and the Mande (whose common language is Dioula). The Voltaic Mossi make up about one-half of the population. The Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated to present-day Burkina Faso from Ghana and established an empire that lasted more than 800 years. Predominantly farmers, the Mossi kingdom is still led by the Mogho Naba, whose court is in Ouagadougou.^[21]

Burkina Fasois an ethnically integrated, secular state. Most of Burkina's people are concentrated in the south and center of the country, sometimes exceeding 48 per square kilometer (125/sq. mi.). Hundreds of thousands of Burkinabe migrate to Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, many for seasonal agricultural work. These flows of workers are obviously affected by external events; the September 2002 coup attempt in Côte d'Ivoire and the ensuing fighting there have meant that hundreds of thousands of Burkinabe returned to Burkina Faso.

Taken From:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso#Demographics

BURKINABE food

The cuisine of Burkina Faso, is similar to the cuisines in many parts of West Africa, and is based around staple foods of sorghum, millet, rice, maize, peanuts, potatoes, beans, yams and okra.Grilled meat is common, particularly mutton, goat, beef and fish.

Common dishes

Tô (Saghbo in Mooré), a bitter pulp made from crushed, cooked millet, sorghum or corn. The dough is mixed with a sauce made from vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, sumbala and carrots. The resulting stew is sometimes supplemented by a piece of meat like mutton or goat.
French green beans
Fufu
Poulet Bicyclette, a grilled chicken dish common across West Africa.
Ragout d'Igname
Riz gras, rice cooked with onions and tomatoes.
Riz Sauce
Sauce gombo
Brochettes

Restaurants generally erve Burkinabé dishes alongside those of neighbouring countries. Foreign dishes include a fish or meat stew called kédjénou from Côte d'Ivoire and poulet yassa, a chicken stew with lemon and onions from Senegal.

Common beverages

The fruit of the African Baobab tree

Bissap/Bisap, a sour-tasting drink made from Roselle (Bissap) flowers and sweetened with sugar
Dôlo, a beer made from pearl millet or sorghum
Toédo, Baobab fruit
Yamoku, Ginger
Zoomkoom, a soft drink made from millet flour, ginger, lemon juice and tamarind

Taken from wikipedia

Places to go in BURKINA FASO

Good markets exist in Bobo Dioulasso, Dori, Gorom-Gorom, Ouahigouya and Ouagadougou. Bargaining in the traditional marketplace is recommended. Purchases include wooden statuettes, bronze models, masks, worked skins from the tannery in Ouagadougou, jewellery, fabrics, hand-woven blankets and leather goods and crafts ranging from chess sets to ashtrays. The Grande Marché in Bobo Dioulasso is much smaller and less cramped market.

Nightlife is particularly good in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. There are several nightclubs in Ouagadougou, some with live music, and several cinemas, both open-air and air conditioned. Bobo Dioulasso has a lively street-cafe scene, good open-air bars and restaurants and a number of open-air and air-conditioned discos. The Wassa Club and Les Bambous are popular venues.

In the capital, Ouagadougou, visit the Ethnography Museum, which contains a substantial collection of Mossi artefacts, the town being the centre of one of the many ancient Mossi kingdoms. Other museums include the National Museum in the Lycée Bogodogo and the Snake Museum in the Collège de la Salle. Witness the Moro-Naba ceremony, with traditional costumes and drums, which takes place outside the Moro-Naba Palace every Friday morning. In October-November, go bargain hunting at the International Arts and Crafts Fair in Ouagadougou.

Nabayius Gou ('the Emperor goes to war') is a traditional 'drama' performed at the Moro-Naba Palace in Ouagadougou depicting the magnificently bedecked emperor being restrained by his wife and subjects as he sets off to make war with his brother. Traditional music and dancing can also be seen on festivals and holidays, especially in the southwest region which is rich in folklore.

Discover the attractive streets and the bustling market, the Grand Marché, of Bobo Dioulasso, the largest town inhabited by the Bobo people. Other city attractions are the Musée Provincial du Houët with regional relics, arts and crafts, and the Grande Mosquée in the Kibidwé district. Excursions outside the city include the scenic sacred fish pond of La Mare aux Poissons Sacrés de Dafra, 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city; the excellent bathing pond of La Guinguette, located in La Fôret de Kou, 18km (11 miles) from the city; and the Mare aux Hippopotames, 66km (41 miles) northeast of the city, where visitors may be taken out in a pirogue to view the hippos for a small fee.

Southwest of Bobo Dioulasso is the town of Banfora, from where the impressive Karfiguéla Waterfalls can be seen, located 12km (3 miles) northwest of the town. Approximately 50km (31 miles) west of Banfora is the town of Sindou, the area where the extraordinary Sindou Rock Formations can be seen.

From Ouagadougou, excursions include a wildlife-viewing trip to a small artificial lake 18km (11 miles) to the north. Pabre, an ancient Mossi village, is a short distance from another large reservoir north of the city. At Sabou, crocodiles can be seen at close quarters. The national parks and reserves are the best places to view wildlife. Tour operators in Ouagadougou can organise trips of varying duration. Entrance fees are payable to all reserves. The three national parks (at Kabore Tembi, at 'W' near the Benin and Niger border, and at Arli) are the most important. South of Ougadougou, near Po, the Ranch de Nazinga is a game reserve with a large population of elephants, antelopes, monkeys, baboons and warthogs.

The best areas for hiking are in the southwest of the country near Banfora. Excellent views of the whole region can be had from the top of the Banfora Escarpment. The Sénoufo region west of Banfora is also very pleasant, as is the Lobi region around Gaoua, southeast of Bobo Dioulasso. Mountain bike trips can be arranged in the areas around Bobo Dioulasso and Banfora, in the Lobi region and in the Nazinga Ranch south of Ouagadougou.

Taken from www.worldtravelguide.net

Doing business in BURKINA FASO

Burkina Fasois one of the poorest countries in the world with an average income per capita of €250 (US$300). More than 80 percent of the population relies on subsistence agriculture, with only a small fraction directly involved in industry and services. Highly variable rainfall, poor soils, lack of adequate communications and other infrastructure, a low literacy rate, and a stagnant economy are all longstanding problems of this landlocked country. The export economy also remains subject to fluctuations in world prices.

The country has a high population density, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress depends on continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage private investment.

The Burkinabé financial system represents 30 percent of the country’s GDP and is dominated by the banking sector, which accounts for 90 percent of total financial system assets. Eleven banks and five non-bank financial institutions operate in the country.

The banking sector is highly concentrated, with the three largest banks holding nearly 60 percent of total financial sector assets. Banks are generally adequately capitalized, but remain vulnerable due to their overexposure to the cotton sector, the prices of which are subject to significant oscillations.

As of 2007, the World Bank estimated that 26 percent of the Burkinabé population has access to financial services. The Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO) reports that about 41 microfinance institutions (MFIs) operate in the country, serving a total of 800,000 customers. Burkina Faso is a member of the regional Bourse Regional des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM) located in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. As of 2009, the regional stock exchange’s market capitalization reached nearly 10 percent of Burkina Faso’s GDP.

Burkina Fasowas ranked the 111th safest investment destination in the world in the March 2011 Euromoney Country Risk rankings.

Taken from wikipedia