Odienné
| Odienné | |
|---|---|
| Town, sub-prefecture, and commune | |
 |
|
 Odienné
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| Coordinates: 9°30′N 7°34′W / 9.500°N 7.567°WCoordinates: 9°30′N 7°34′W / 9.500°N 7.567°W | |
| Country |
 Ivory Coast
|
| District | Denguélé |
| Region | Kabadougou |
| Department | Odienné Department |
| Elevation | 437 m (1,434 ft) |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 50,506 |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
Odienné is a town in northwestern Ivory Coast. It is the seat of both Denguélé District and Kabadougou Region. It is also a commune and the seat of and a sub-prefecture of Odienné Department.
The town of Odienné was founded by Malinké people under Vakaba Touré. Later, Samory Touré founded a support base in the town. Features of Odienné include a large mosque and nearby gold mines. Vakaba Touré's tomb is located in Odienné also.
The town is served by Odienné Airport. The Stade Municipal is a multi-purpose stadium in the town. St. Augustine Cathedral serves as the cathedral and headquarters for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Odienné, of which Antoine Koné is the bishop.
It is thought that the area surrounding Odienné was first settled by the Senufo people and the Mandinka people. The founding of the town is credited to Vakaba Touré (1800-58), who also founded the Kabadougou Empire, of which Odienné was the capital. The French explorer René Caillié visited Odienné in 1827. In 1898, during the French occupation of Cote d'Ivoire, a military post was established south of Odienné. During the First Ivorian Civil War, Odienné was a Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire stronghold. Its remote location meant that the town was somewhat peaceful during the war compared to other Ivorian towns.
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