Tambacounda
| Tambacounda | |
|---|---|
| Commune | |
Tamba Counda train station
|
|
 arrondissements of the Tambacounda department |
|
 Tambacounda
|
|
| Coordinates (region:SN_type:city): 13°46′8″N 13°40′2″W / 13.76889°N 13.66722°WCoordinates: 13°46′8″N 13°40′2″W / 13.76889°N 13.66722°W | |
| Country |
 Senegal
|
| Region | Tambacounda Region |
| Departement | Tambacounda |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Oury Ba |
| Elevation | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 78,800 |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
| Website | http://sip.sn/tambacounda |
Tambacounda is the largest city in eastern Senegal, 400 kilometres (250 mi) southeast of Dakar, and is the regional capital of the province of the same name. Its estimated population in 2007 was 78,800.
Tambacounda is situated on the sparsely populated sahélien plains of eastern Senegal. Like most of West Africa, the area has two seasons, the rainy season from June to October, characterized by heat, humidity and storms, and the dry season from November to May.
Nearby towns include Madina Maboule, Koukari, Yoro Sankoule, Sambadian, Djidje Kounda, Afia Seno, Saare Boylii and Kanderi Niana.
Between the censuses of 1988 and 2002, Tambacounda grew from 41,885 to 67,543 inhabitants.
In 2007, according to official estimates, the population reached 78,800 persons.
Settled first by Mandike peoples on the outskirts of the Mali Empire, on the regular transhumance routes of Fula cattle herders, and settled again by Wolof farmers in the early 20th century, Tambacounda has a mix of most of the ethnic groups in Senegal.
The Tambacounda region is famous for its rich djembe and dance culture and heritage. Some of the greatest djembe masters from Segu, Mali came to Tambacounda in the mid 1900s, bringing with them their history, knowledge, and secrets of the djembe. Among the famous musicians from Tambacounda is drummer Abdoulaye Diakite.
As with most of Senegal, the population is overwhelmingly Muslim, with much of the Wolof population in the region tracing their roots to Mouride sufi adherents who were given wild grassland by the brotherhood to clear and settle at the beginning of the 20th century. There is a Roman Catholic Diocese of Tambacounda, but only 1.8% of the population of the region is Roman Catholic.
...
Wikipedia