History of Bamako: from the Niaré family to the District, from 600 people to over 4 million
The history of Bamako: founded by the Niaré family according to tradition, a village of 600 people in 1883, capital of Upper Senegal-Niger then French Sudan, the railway, Koulouba, independence in 1960, the District in 1977 and the 2023 reform.
In a century and a half, Bamako has grown from a village of 600 people into a capital of more than 4 million. Here are the main stages of its history, from its founding by the Niaré family to the District reform of 2023.
Key points
- The site has been occupied since prehistoric times, as excavations at Magnambougou have shown.
- According to tradition, Bamako was founded by the Niaré, of Soninke origin; Niaréla is one of the oldest neighbourhoods.
- 1883: French troops enter; 1920: capital of French Sudan; 1960: capital of independent Mali.
- 1977: Bamako becomes a District of six communes; since the 2023 law, it has seven arrondissements.
The founding: the Niaré tradition
The accounts reported by Wikipedia place the founding at different times, in the 16th century or the early 19th century, but agree on one family: the Niaré, Soninke (Marka) who came from the north. In one version, the ancestor Sériba first settled near Bamba Sakho, not far from present-day Moribabougou, and it was his son Dia Moussa who discovered the site of the town while hunting. Another version names Simballa Niaré, a hunter from Kaarta, as the one who chose the site, and his eldest son Diamoussa Niaré as the founder.
The town's name is explained in two ways: "crocodile river" (bamma-ko) or "behind Bamba" (Sakho). The three crocodiles, Bamako's symbol, are said to refer to the three streams that crossed the town, the Lido, the Diafarana and the Bèlèsôkô, which met near today's Hôtel de l'Amitié before flowing into the Niger. The Niaréla neighbourhood bears the founding family's name.
The colonial period (1883–1960)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 February 1883 | Gustave Borgnis-Desbordes's French troops enter Bamako, a large fortified village of about 600 people |
| 1895 | seat of a cercle |
| 17 October 1899 | capital of Upper Senegal-Niger |
| 1903–1907 | construction of the Koulouba palace, the governor's residence and, since 1960, the presidency |
| 1904 | opening of the Dakar–Niger railway |
| 1905 | construction of the Point G hospital begins |
| 20 December 1918 | mixed commune, run by an administrator-mayor |
| 1920 | capital of French Sudan |
| 1927 | construction of the Sacred Heart cathedral |
| 1931 | creation of the Maison des Artisans |
| 1948 | construction of the Great Mosque |
| 18 November 1955 | full commune; Modibo Keïta is elected mayor on 16 November 1956 |
Governor Henri Terrasson de Fougères, in office in the 1920s, was behind many urban works. Amadou Coumba Niaré (1883–1963), one of Bamako's first teachers, became head of the province in 1956, before traditional chieftaincy was abolished in 1958. For the monuments of that era, see our guide to Bamako's monuments.
Since independence
- 22 September 1960: independence is proclaimed; Bamako becomes Mali's capital.
- 1968–1978: after Moussa Traoré's coup, the city is run by appointed administrators.
- 12 July 1977: an ordinance makes Bamako a District, a local authority with special status made up of six communes, run from 1978 by a governor.
- 11 February 1993: a law makes the District a local authority with legal personality; from 1998 it is run by an elected mayor, Ibrahima N'Diaye being the first.
- 20 November 2015: hostage-taking at the Radisson Blu hotel.
- April 2019: a record heatwave causes more than 550 deaths, according to Wikipedia.
- 13 March 2023: law no. 2023-005 gives the District a new special status, with seven arrondissements instead of six communes: see our District of Bamako page.
The district covers about 267 km², 22 km west to east and 12 km north to south, in a basin surrounded by hills, and includes a classified forest, Koulouba (2,010 ha). It has grown from 600 people in 1883 to 4,170,005 in 2023 according to INSTAT: see our article on Bamako's population.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Bamako?
According to tradition, the Niaré family, of Soninke origin; accounts name Sériba or Simballa Niaré as ancestor and Dia Moussa (Diamoussa) Niaré as founder.
What does the name Bamako mean?
Most often "crocodile river" in Bambara; another explanation links the name to Bamba Sakho, a neighbour of the first Niaré.
Since when has Bamako been the capital?
It was capital of Upper Senegal-Niger from 1899, of French Sudan in 1920 and of independent Mali since 22 September 1960.
Sources: Wikipedia (French) — Bamako (History and Geography sections); Official Journal of Mali, law no. 2023-005 of 13 March 2023 (French); INSTAT, Directory of Localities 2023.