Bamako: History

Pre-20th-Century History

The site on which Bamako sits is believed to have been continuously occupied since paleolithic times. The current city was founded in the 17th century and developed into a market town and scholastic centre. By the turn of the 19th century, however, it had fallen on hard times. When Scottish explorer Mungo Park passed through in 1806, Bamako was an unassuming Bozo fishing and trading community of about 6000 people.

Modern History

By the end of the 19th century, in the great European rush to subjugate Africa, the French emerged as the serious players in the western part of the continent. In 1883, French imperial forces captured the town and in 1908 they transferred their regional seat of power from Kayes, making Bamako the capital of the French Sudan.

Recent History

As the existing colonial capital, Bamako's status was assured when the French finally withdrew from Africa and Mali gained its independence. In the decades since, it has continued to grow. In a cycle typical of cities in the developing world, rural poverty and the prospect of employment in the city has propelled strong urban growth, putting pressure on the city's infrastructure.

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